IN FULL VIGOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 July 1943, Page 3

IN FULL VIGOUR

ALLIED AIR & LAND OFFENIIVE GOOD PROGRESS MADE IN SICILY IN SPITE OF DESPERATE RESISTANCE. MAINLAND TARGETS BLASTED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received Ths Day, 1.30 a.m.) RUGBY, July 16. Today's communique from the Mediterranean reports the capture of several more places in Sicily and reports that the British and American forces have made further progress. Allied bombers made day and night raids on Naples and our aircraft attacked airfields in Southern Italy and the Messina ferry. The communique gives the names of thirteen places now in Allied hands. It says bitter fighting has taken place, particularly in the eastern sector, where the Eighth Army has made further progress against German troops, who desperately contested every inch of ground. Severe losses were inflicted on the enemy. In the western sector the American Seventh Army has advanced several miles across difficult hill country and captured further objectives. The communique says the speed of the advance is very satisfactory, but transport and supporting weapons arc of necessity limited during the second phase. Little damage has been done by the enemy to communications The naval section of the communique says the Catania Aerodrome has been heavily bombarded from the sea. Strong naval forces continue to give support on the right flank of the Army. One of our destroyers, operating north of Augusta, sank one E-boat and probably damaged a second. The work of disembarking troops and supplies is proceeding smoothly. The Allied air fleet has made some of its biggest raids on targets on the Italian mainland and also in Sicily.