FORCES MASSING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1943, Page 4

FORCES MASSING

FOR THE FINAL BATTLE IN SICILY AXIS REINFORCEMENTS BROUGHT IN ALLIED PLANES HAMMERING ALL ROADS. AND VIGOROUSLY ATTACKING MAINLAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 25. The armies of the United Nations tonight are massing for the fihal battle in Sicily, says the Columbia Broadcasting system’s Algiers correspondent. Meanwhile there are reports that reinforcements, are reaching the Axis forces in Sicily. The Ankara radio said troops which were travelling to the Russian front have been diverted to Sicily. The British United Press reports that a number of battalions have been flown to Sicily since the invasion began, that others have arrived by ships and that the enemy is still trying to get others through the Allied blockade. The Press Association’s military writer suggests that reports that the Germans are evacuating the island across Messina Straits should be treated with reserve. He adds: “On the contrary, small Axis craft are trying to get through with all the reinforcements they can carry to the fighting troops.” Reports from all sources indicate that the Allied air forces are constantly hammering Axis communications and supply lines. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says the roads are the key target within the Axis defence triangle and they are receiving a ceaseless battering. Road communications behind the enemy lines are restricted, the only main highways available being the north coastal road, the Catania-Messina highway and an interior road swinging west from Mt. Etna, through much bombed Randazzo. Allied airmen are patrolling these regularly. The British United Press correspondent at an advanced air base says the Allied air forces are also increasing the weight of attack against the mainland and carried out one of the biggest air blitzes of the campaign against Italian railways during the 48 hours ending early today. The attack against Bologna was the first against that town. The Berlin radio quoted a Rome message to the effect that the Allied air raid on Bologna began at 9.50 a.m. yesterday and ended at 12.50 p.m. Many buildings, mostly residential, in the centre of the city were destroyed or heavily damaged. Among the landmarks hit was Marconi’s birthplace.

CONSTANT PRESSURE MAINTAINED BY ALLIES. AMERICANS DRIVING EAST. (Received This Day, 11.46 a.m.) LONDON, July 25. The Allies are maintaining constant pressure against the Axis forces in Sicily, who are hurriedly building a defence line across the 70 miles base of the San Stefano-Messina-Catania triangle, in which arey are preparing for a last-ditch stand, Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters says. The enemy, in face of the Allied onslaught, is attempting to pull together his badly battered forces of fleeing Italians and resolute Germans in the faint hope of still saving Sicily. The Catania battlefield remains the pivot of a front slowly rotating eastwards. Eighth Army forces face the Germans across the central stream of the Catania Plaift south of tfie city, where six days ago it was officially stated they were within three miles of Catania City. The Eighth Army is still meeting strong resistance. The Canadians farther north are engaging in stiff battles as they drive back the Axis forces towards the lower slopes of Mount Etna. The Americans in the extreme north meanwhile ate sweeping steadily eastwards along the coast.