The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-07-19
Shoot Nozi
OverIords
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(CO0JlnueO 1TOln rage -
Gerbani air base threatened, the
Axis military situation appeared to
be deteriorating rapidly except on
the east coast road leading to Mes
sina.
The Italians were showing their
sympathy with the Allies by de-
stroying Fascist symbols and pic
lures of Mussolini and pulling
their punches on the military front
despite German units scattered
among them. The lineup of Axis
forces in battle was based on hav-
ing Italian troops in the center OF
each battle sector, with Germans on
both flanks. Nevertheless, there
have been many cases where the
Italians surrendered and left the
Germans on the flanks in a hopeless
position.
The British 9th Army under Gen.
Sir Bernard L. Montgomery bat
tered it's way thorugh the strong
est opposition, including Hermann
Goering tank units, on the Catanla
Plain.
The 9th army, aided by paratroops
which landed behind the enemy
lines to seize key bridges, crossed
the Gornalunga river and strength
ened it's bridgehead on the Dit
taino river. Then the British seized
the estuary formed by those two
rivers and the Simeta river on inc
east coast, just south OF Catanla.
One river had to be crossed twice
because of its curving course.
Many Enemy Dead
MANY German and Italian dead
left on the battle fields en- route
to Catania, which was burning al
ter repeated air and naval lombard
ment. Allied planes and Warshlrs
also ranged northWard toward Mes
sina, smashing hard at enemy COM
munications.
On the central front, Americans
stormed into Caltanisseta, SEEING
the main axis communications to
the west and advancing to within a
dozen miles of the enemy's main
mid-island concentration point at
Emma.
The American operations, thrust
ing northWard at point about 90
miles west of Catania, appeared TO
be threatening the enemies entire
right flank in a splitting and turn
ing movement, while other Allied
forces stabbed into the line near
Catania in drives that threatened
Gerbini airdrome and roads south
west of Mount Etna.
The enemy threw all possible
weight, including Hermann Goer-
ing tank units into an effort to
protect these vital communications
and airfields but the Canadians had
pushed more than 80 miles inland
and the whole front was Surging
forward.
CToday's italian communicate said
that repeated enemy attacks in Sic
lily we're repulsed, with the Leghorn
division distinguishing itself. 1t
claimed that Axis aircraft had hit
12,OOO-ton ammunition ship, a
heavy cruiser, and a merchantmen
Scout Weapon-"A bud"
The battle for Catania, however,
still overshadowed the other fronts.
Field dispatches said that a much
touted Hitler secret Weapon-a null
tiple barrel mortar-had been used
against Allied troops but that 1t was
so unsuccessful that the troops call
ed it "Iitler's secret flop"
An NBC dispatch broadcast from
an army command post said that
Allied troops were pushing into the
suburbs of Catania at fires lighted
the loWlands and heavy artillery
shelled the sector from the River
Simeto to Catania)
Both warships and airplanes join
ed in terrific bombardment Of Ca
tania and nearby targets.
Although there were reports that
the Allied Forces actually were in
the outskirts of Catania, exact po-
sitions were unavailable in official
sources and it mercy was indicated
that the battle was raging around
and close to the city.
The number of prisoners was
mounting rapidly and estimated at
$4,000 including about $4,000 taken
by Americans. The only organized
and strong resistance on the entire
front appeared to be in the Catania
sector,