EIGHTH ARMY MAKING STEADY PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1943, Page 3

EIGHTH ARMY MAKING STEADY PROGRESS

Against Strong German Resistance AMERICANS & CANADIANS DRIVING INTO INTERIOR OF SICILY ITALIANS IN SOME AREAS SURRENDERING LONDON, July 19. Correspondents at Allied Headquarters state that the only serious resistance in Sicily is coming’ from the Germans in the east of the island. Crack troops of the Hermann Goering’ Division are making the Eighth Army fight for every yard of the ground on the great Catanian Plains. The Eighth Army is now within three miles of Catania and has advanced four miles since yesterday. Correspondents state that General Montgomery s men have secured a bridgehead on the Axis side of an estuaiy which cuts across the plains south of Catania, and have completely neutralised the valuable Gerbini airfields. Italian troops are coming over in organised surrender. The latest figure of prisoners in Allied hands is 35,000. A substantial advance has been made by both the Canadians and Americans towards the centre of the is,land. The Canadians have fought their way northward with skill and determination in difficult country and have captured a railway town. United States forces are reported to be linking up with the Canadians in this area. Further west, the Americans have captured another railway town. Allied bombers have been very active over the Catania area and heavy raids have been made on centres supplying Catania. Allied Lightning fighters had a successful day over Sar dinia. They caught 15 big enemy transport planes and not one of these escaped.