Evening star., 1943-08-06
u. ). Forces Advance
In Northern Sicily,
Take Central Town
Continued From First Page J

nonessential personnel reported un
der way for about week. Smal
boats can ply the narrow Messin
Straits despite the continuous Al
lied air and naval siege of those wa
ters. A ship offshore was fired by
direct hit last night.
SWarms of medium bombers, fight
er-bombers and fighters continued
to fill the sky over the dwindlinl
brigehead, rowing unopposed owe
roads and railroads, hurting stee
into troop conveys and blasting tn
towns of Adrano, Francavilla ant
other key points of the German de
tense system.
The Germans we're putting up
particularly bitter defense in tn
area about Troina.
dispatches reaching Allied
headquarters in North Africa
three days ago said the Ameri-
cans had taken Troina Earlier,
Prime Minister Churchill said
they were reported to have en-
tered Troina. but apparently
heavy German counterattacks
developed before the entry could
be consolidated
One military observer who saw
the opening stages of the battle O
Troina described it as "a major
military operation" He said the
Germans were there in force de.
Tending the town with every kind oI
weapon, particularly mortars capa.
BILE of covering every inch of the
hills and valleys around the towr
with deadly fire.
This is undoubtedly the most
savage fighting which has yet de-
veloped in Sicily" he declared.
Terrain Extremely Bad.
The terrain was described as
worse than any encountered in Tu-
nisia. The town is perched on TOP
of a hill nearly a mile high sur
rounded by system of mountains
with rock-strewn. precipitous sides
each of which forms a natural for
tress.
The doughboys were forced to
inch their way up the slopes in the
face of whitening fire from machine
guns and explosions OF mortar shells
which sent not only steel but chunks
of rock flying in deadly spray.
Crack American combat teams
first assaulted Troina, but were un-
able to break inside. The Ameri-
can commander then brought up
heavy troop formations and power
full artillery batteries, and footholds
were won in the hills near the town.
The reason for the desperation of
the German defense lies in the stra-
tegic Importance of Troina. Should
the town be captured, Axis elements
already forced out of Catania, Mis-
terbianco and Palermo would be in
danger of being f1anked while at
tempting to retreat around the west
ern slope of Mount Etna.
Large-Scale Rear Guard Action.
The battle of Troina, therefore,
Is regarded as actually large-scale
rear guard action designed to cover
the withdrawal of the army that
lost Catania and has been beaten
back by the Canadians and British
In the south and central sectors.
What are described as secondary
elements army personnel not
engaged in actual front-line fight
ing-have already been moving
northeastward in the direction of
Messina, and some have been sent
across the straits to the mainland.
A full-scale enemy withdrawal
from Sicily has not yet begun,
so far as is known, but it is believed
that Axis commanders are endeav-
oring to get back to shorter line
north and east of Mount Etna.
Allied airmen reported significant
ly that the concentration of anti
aircraft guns around the Messina
Straits was the heaviest yet met in
the Mediterranean.
THE only thing that we can COM
pare it with is the Ruhr barrage,"
one said.
Scores of barges employed to shut
tie troops and supplies between the
mainland and Sicily have been sunk
in the straits.
Fifty Miles From Messina.
Two Allied armies-the Americans
In the north and the British in the
south-now are within so miles of
Messina and advancing steadily, it
was stated authoritatively
The Canadian drive within miles
of Adrano was threatening still an
other major link of the Axis COM
municatlons.
British forces which broke into
Catania yesterday captured almost
the entire Italian 434th Coastal Bat
talon.
The Italians said the Germans
pulled out first, leaving them as q
rear guard-and, pursuing their
habitual tactics, the NaZis failed to
notify their allies of their departure.
The Italians said the first indi-
cation they had that the city was
taken was when they saw British
troops.
When tney asked Tor terms, the
commander of the 9th Army Bri-
gade replied curtly, Unconditional
surrender" and they gladly &C
cepted.
Two Allied units we're singled out
for special mention in the fighting
in the last few days. They are an
Irish brigade, which emerged from
the Tunisian campaign with bril-
liant record and now has been cred
tied with the capture of Centuripe,
and the 4th French Goums, a bat
talon of lighting Moroccan
troops who are under command OF
1t. Gen George S. Patton, jr.
The Goums have been battling
with particular effectiveness in the
tortuous hill country Of the northern
sector.
Climax Seen Near.
Since the initial stages, Flying
Fortresses have not been directed
against targets in Sicily. The de-
structive power Of their heavy bombs
has been concentrated on bigger OBJ
jectives on the Italian mainland.
The fact that they have been
thrown in to prevent Axis forces
from escaping the island indicates
the climax of the struggle Is al