MORE CAPTURES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 July 1943, Page 4

MORE CAPTURES

MADE BV EIGHTH ARMY BRITISH AND CANADIANS. FIGHTING IN CONPANY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, July 15. The commander of the 54th Napoli Division surrendered with his staff and many of his troops when the Eighth Army captured Melilli, eight miles south-west of Augusta. British forces repulsed a jtrong German attack on Augusta and pushed on to the small coast town of Brugoli, four miles north. Fighting round the harbour of Augusta was severe, but the dash of the British troops made a famous German regiment retire with heavy losses. On the Eighth Army’s north-western front, British and Canadians are fighting together. The latest advance here has been 7 to 8 miles in hilly country, • where the going is worse.

SHARP DECLINE IN ENEMY AIR ACTIVITY OVER SICILY. BUT NUMBER OF AXIS PLANES DESTROYED. (British Official tireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, July 15. Enemy air activity over Sicily yesterday fejj away sharply and a Malta message says only a small number of German and Italian aircraft came within reach of Malta-based Spitfires covering the ships and beaches and the fighter-bombers supporting our forward troops. Four enemy aircraft were destroyed and others were damaged. On the previous night Malta’s Mosquitoes and Reaufighters destroyed six enemy aircraft. A Junkers 88, carrying torpedoes, exploded after receiving a burst from a Mosquito. During daylight, Spitfires mounted guard