MADE BY THE ALLIES IN SICILY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 July 1943, Page 4

MADE BY THE ALLIES IN SICILY

Including Seven Airfields and Seaplane Base ' BRITISH AND AMERICAN FORCES WORKING TO UNIFIED PLAN AUGUSTA FIRMLY HELD BY EIGHTH ARMY (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 1.25 p.in.) RUGBY, July 15Our forces in Sicily have made considerable gains north , of Augusta and in the south of the island. At least six airfields are now in cur hands and some are being used by oui fighters. The Messina ferry has come in for increasingly heavy attacks from Allied bombers. In Sicily the Allied troops have made fresh gains on both the western and eastern sectors, and today’s communique also reports successful operations by airborne and parachute troops. Allied fighter planes are now operating from captured airfields in Sicily, and from Pantellaria, in support of the advance. A communique says: ‘ ‘ During the last 24 hours our ground forces have made considerable gains. In the eastern sector, the British Eighth Army has advanced some miles beyond Augusta, which has been firmly secured. In the western sector, the American Seventh Army has captured another important aerodrome and several dominating hills. Both British and Amciican airborne and parachute troops have carried out successful opeiations. At least 12,000 prisoners have been taken during the past five days.” A correspondent at Algiers say the Allied forces are now moving’ along tog’ether in one unified plan of attack. In the west, the Americans, driving up from Noro, through woody country, are threatening lines of communication in the centre of the island. In the east, the British advance has carried our troops through to the plain ci Catania and this drive now directly threatens Catania itself. Up to now, enemy resistance has not been nearly as strong as vzas expected, but it seems highly probable that the enemy will fight for Catania and generally we expect resistance to stiffen. Most of the 12,000 prisoners captured were Italians and 8,000 have already been evacuated. We now have seven of the Axis airfields in Sicily and a seaplane base.