GERMAN EVACUATION OF SICILY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 August 1943, Page 3

GERMAN EVACUATION OF SICILY

According to War Correspondents ALLIED LAND FORCES NEARING RANDAZZO ANOTHER AMERICAN LANDING ON NORTH COAST , i LONDON, August 12. Correspondents in Sicily report that the German evacuation of the island is now in full swing. Thousands of German troops are leaving the island with as much equipment as they can take. Light craft, including barges and landing craft, are running the gauntlet of ceaseless R.A.F. attacks on and between embarkation beaches and the reception places on the mainland. The evacuation fleet consists of about 80 small craft, some of which have already been sent to the bottom. The Germans are putting up a vast umbrella of anti-aircraft fire across the straits, but Allied aircraft have already inflicted casualties on the evacuating troops. In addition to day and night air attacks, the Navy is taking a hand during the night. The Germans are still fighting very stubbornly all along the 35-mile front. British and American troops are closing m on the key town of Randazzo, the only remaining bastion of the enemy’s defence. British and American forces are both reported to be within two miles of the town. There are signs that the enemy is beginning to tire. On the east coast the British Eighth Army has reached a point only five or six miles from the road linking Messina and Randazzo. On the north coast, the Americans have made another landing further along the coast and captured a town near Cape Orlando. The landing was vigorously opposed by the Germans, but the Americans established a bridgehead. A later message states that the main body of the American Seventh Army has linked up with the landing party. The enemy has lost all direct communication between the north coas.t and Randazzo. TOWN NORTH OF ROME BOMBED

Allied aircraft continue to hammer the enemy’s lines of supply in the toe of Italy. Flying* Fortresses went further afield today and bombed an industrial town 40 miles north of Rome. The bombers did much damage to the Royal Arms factory, rolling’ mills and a large group of workshops.