AGAINST GERMAN LINE ROUND MOUNT ETNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1943, Page 4

AGAINST GERMAN LINE ROUND MOUNT ETNA

Rapid American Progress in North CANADIANS ALSO PRESSING ON IN HARD FIGHTING BATTLE INTENSIFIED ALONG WHOLE FRONT 'By Telegraph.—Press Association.-—Copyright.) (Received This Dav, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Julv 29.

Smashing Allied blows against the centre of the Germans’ Mount Etna line are now threatening the Axis communications system and squeezing the enemy more closely into a narrowingtriangle, Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters says the Allies have further improved their positions in the last 24 hours. They are threatening the Germans’ extreme right wing, based on San Stefano, as well as denting the enemy’s centre, where the Canadians took Leonforte, thereby opening the way to the German defence line, which is based on Agira and Regalbuto. The Americans’ advance in the north coastal region is proceeding rapidly. The Americans quickly fanned southwards from the north coast and occupied Gangi, only nine miles northeast of the important road junction of Nicosia, which is the key in this area to the Germans’ north and south communications. The Americans apparently are again pushing on, because the Berlin radio announced that Nicosia had been evacuated “according to plan.’’ With the Americans now running into the main German defences, bitter fighting is expected. The Canadians yesterday advanced about 12£ miles, but are meeting bitter resistance from the Germans. The Canadians found the approaches to one town they captured strewn with German dead. The battle is being intensified along the whole 100 miles front.