Evening star., 1943-08-09
Nazis in North
e0utfIanked
Americans
Two Towns Captured
In Daring Attack by
Seu-Borne Forces
MAP on Page A-2)
BY the Associated Press.

FMup on rage A-Z./
BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA. Aug. 9.-Amer-
lean and British Army units are
closing twin drives on Randazzo.
central anchor of the German
lines on the north slopes of
Mount Etna, late field dispatches
reported this afternoon.
The Americans-fresh from the
seizure OF Cesaro-were reported 10
miles from Randazzo, with the Brit
lsh seven miles distant.
Earlier dispatches told of Ameri-
can advances in Northern Sicily and
British gains on the southern front.
where the British 9th Army was
within AZ airline miles of the enemy
escape port of Messina.
Detachments of the United States
7th Army, starting the attack In
the north from the sea behind the
Germans strong positions, captured
San Fratello and San Agata, the
latter so miles from Messina.
Hundreds of Germans were cap
tured in the area, just how many
was not revealed.
Another American force seized
Cesaro, Is miles to the south, in an
8-mile advance from the captured
inland citadel of Troina.
British Sweep Through AcireaIe.
The 9th Army swept through
Acireale, a port AZ miles by air
and less than so miles by road
from Messina, in a 9-mile drive up
the east coast from Catania and
also captured San Maria de Licodia.
high on the southern slopes Of
Mount Etna.
A dispatch filed from the field by
the Associated Press correspondent
Joseph Morton said the American
amphibious forces-made up of Sd
Division units-made their landing
Saturday night at Torrenova, 3
miles east of San Agata.
American-manned Warhawks and
Spitnres provided air cover as the
troops cut the coastal highway and
took positions in the hills, pocketing
the Germans to the west.
The daring amphibious and ground
operations were coupled with aerial
blows at railways, roads and bridges
In Southern Italy, fresh and heavy
raids on Randazzo' and attacks on
enemy shipping, an Allied COM
munique said.
Without stating whether the
enemy was still attempting to REIN
force divisions in Sicily or was pur-
suing salvage operation, the COM
munique said enemy troops and
shipping in the Messina Strait were
attacked throughout last night by
our light bombers."
Allied Lines Shortened.
Allied ground lines from San
Agata to Acireale through San Fra
tello, Cesaro, Bronte, Adrano and
San Mario di Licodia we're cut to a
length of little more than 60 miles.
1t is but % miles from San. Agata
to the northwest slope of Mount
Etna.
Americans outsmarted the fierce
German defenders of San Agata and
San Fratello by the seaborne flank
attack. The amphibious maneuver
via the Tyrrhenian Sea completely
surprised the strongly fortified gar
riSons.
The Americans landed unopposed
in the enemy rear (east of San
Agata). captured 300 Germans and
drove off others who were moving
west as reinforcements.
Other American units pressed for
ward frontally from their base at
San Stefano, Is miles west of San
Agata, and crushed the line as If
it were cardboard.
His grip loosened, the enemys
northern troops fell back and may
not attempt to make another stand
short of Cape d'Orlando, which juts
(See SICILY, Page A-14)