MAIN DEFENCES GONE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 7, 4 October 1943, Page 6

MAIN DEFENCES GONE

Germans In Corsica

END OF RESISTANCE BELIEVED NEAR

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received October 3, 9 p.m.)

(LONDON, October 2. It is officially stated that the Germans hold 'less than 200 square miles round Bastia, in Corsica, says the Exchange Telegraph’s Algiers correspondent, they have only 4000 troops in Corsica, where there are SOOO or 10,000 French troops.

The correspondent adds that, includ ing Sardinia and Sicily, the Allies now oceupv 35,000 square miles of Italian territory, of a total of 116,377 square miles.

The famous “Gooms” in Corsica were reported yesterday to hold hill positions three miles west, Ove miles north-west, and six miles south-west of Bastia. A correspondent at Allied headquarters said that the remaining German forces iu Corsica were being pinned in and had lost their main defences. The Germans now controlled only a small, strip of fiat country south and south-east of the town. The end of German resistance in Corsica was now very near. An official communique from 1 reneh headquarters, broadcast by Algiers radio, said: — . . . „ . “■During violent lighting in Corsica our troops compelled the enemy to give ground everywhere and to abandon his positions for the defence of Bastia (20 miles from the northern tip ot the island). Moroccan troops took the height of San -Stefano, capturing prison-, ers, a number of guns, and great quantities of war material. All enemy attempts to retake the height were frustrated. Moroccan Goumiers captured the pass of San Leonardo. In the Valley of Golo troops occupied Partezza and Cola and Coronio. Ou.r offensive actions are progressing favourably. “Yesterday afternoon a formation of some 10 enemy bombers was attacked by our lighters in the region of Ajaccio. Six of the enemy planes were shot down. Another was destroyed -by anti-aircraft lire. Off Bastia two enemy transpprt planes were shot down. . "Our fighters on Wednesday and Thursday scored 17 air victories. Two of our planes are missing.”