EIGHTH ARMY TROOPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1943, Page 3

EIGHTH ARMY TROOPS

IN SIGHT OF ITALIAN MAINLAND On Advance Northward From Catania BITTER CONFLICT ON APPROACHES TO RANDAZZO GERMANS FIERCELY RESISTING ALLIED ATTACKS LOX DON, August 11. In Sicily the British Eighth Army troops yesterday fought their way along the east coast road to Giarre and for the first time came within sight of the Italian mainland, 35 miles across the Straits of Messina. Today’s advance carries the troops almost half-way along the narrow coastal corridor on the road to Messina. On the opposite flank the American Seventh Army advanced a further three to four miles along the north coast, to the mouth of a river, where the American seaborne forces landed in the enemy’s rear last Sunday. The German resistance remains stubborn on both flanks. In the centre, where the British and American troops are driving towards the key town of Randazzo, the enemy is fighting most fiercely. The Germans know that when Randazzo falls their last hope of properly organised resistance in Sicily goes with it. That is why they are fighting like tigers to defend the place. Progress is likely to be slow. AUied aircraft continued their attacks on Randazzo from dawn to dusk. By evening it seemed that the defences had been overwhelmed. Other planes attacked troop concentrations, transport, roads, railways and gun positions. Shipping was also attacked in the Straits. Fighter sweeps were made over the toe of Italy.