DEVELOPING THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1943, Page 4

DEVELOPING THREAT

TO AXIS DEFENCE LINE IN SICILY ALLIED FORCES CLOSING IN. RAPID AMERICAN ADVANCE IN NORTH. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) ' LONDON, July 27. The threat to the Axis defence line in Sicily has become ominous, according to Reuter’s Algiers correspondent. “The Americans,” he says, “are sweeping along the coastal highway towards Messina, the Canadians are striking north-east in the centre, and the Eighth Army is steadily pounding the apV*proaches to Catania.” The British United Press correspondent at Algiers says the last battle for the remaining Axis-held portion of Sicily seems likely to begin at any moment. Fierce artillery duels are in progress in the extreme south-east, where the Germans still hold considerable bridgeheads, covering Catania. Preparations for the main battle appear to be continuing. The fiercest fighting is going on farther north, where the Canadians were last reported to be roughly 12 miles north-east of Enna. They apparently bypassed Leonforte, leaving them only about 10 miles from Regalbuto, where the Axis is expected to make a major stand. Regalbuto is also the junction of two parts .of the Axis line, that on the south manned by Germans and in the north by Italians. The Americans on the north coast are making one of the speediest advances thus far. Another 30 miles advance beyond Cefalu will bring them up against what are likely to be the main Axis defence positions on the coast, those in the neighbourhood of Santa Agata. The British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Army, writing from Catanian Plain on Sunday, said the Germans are still rushing reinforcements to Sicily. Gliders are putting them down on flat little plateaux and on fields, while lighters are bringing them into coves and beaches on the north coast. Many of the reinforcements are formed by units hastily mobilised from German troops in cities like Naples, Reggio de Calabria and Brindisi. The Axis, despite reinforcements, appears to be preparing for a major delaying action rather than a big defensive stand, and is taking advantage of the comparative lull to blow up bridges, culverts and river crossings before a line which is being prepared around Mount Etna. Axis forward units are busy building trenches, new gun positions and laying extensive minefields and tank traps.

SICILIAN HARBOURS

AND RAILWAY TARGET IN ITALY.

ATTACKED BY ALLIED BOMBERS.

(British Official (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) RUGBY, July 27.

Allied planes have continued to attack Sicilian harbours, and on the Italian mainland a railway centre on the main line from Naples to the south was bombed. In addition to those mentioned previously, eleven enemy aircraft were destroyed during the day, for the loss of three Allied planes.