RANDAZZO TAKEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1943, Page 3

RANDAZZO TAKEN

KEY TOWN OF GERMAN DEFENCES IN SICILY Entry of American Seventh Army ENEMY EVACUATION SPEEDED UP DEFENCE OF BRIDGEHEAD NEARING COLLAPSE LONDON’, August 13. The capture of Randazzo, the key town in the German de, fences in Sicily, is announced by the United Nations radio in Algiers. The official statement says the American Seventh Army entered Randazzo at 1.35 o’clock this morning. Randazzo is the key to the whole of the remaining German positions in the north-eastern tip of the island. The Germans have been stubbornly defending the town, which has fallen under the relentless pressure of the Allied forces. Earlier news of the land fighting in Sicily indicated that the German positions at Randazzo were rapidly becoming untenable. The Americans advanced eight miles on the north coast yesterday and were last reported to be still going ahead. They were less than 35 miles from Messina. • The British Eighth Army yesterday fought its way tour miles up the east coast in spite of stiff German resistance and is also less than 35 miles from Messina. The fall of Randazzo is likely to have an important ettecb on the remainder of the campaign in Sicily. The defence of the enemy bridgehead is likely to collapse. The Geimans are speeding up the evacuation of their troops across the Straits of Messina. . Allied aircraft continue their unceasing attacks on the enemy evacuation ships. The men are carrying as much arms and ammunition as they can. The Germans are still putting up a terrific anti-aircraft umbrella, which is described by pilots as being equal to the anti-aircraft defences in the Ruhr. German fighters have also gone up in an attempt to intercept Kictyhawks and Warhawks attacking shipping. A number of the enemy fighters have been shot down, the rest driven away and attacks oh the evacuation traffic continued. It is impossible to prevent the Germans from getting a large number of men across the straits under cover of darkness, but aircraft are taking a considerable toll of the escaping troops.