Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-29
Eisenhower Says Nazis in Italy
Are Only Bar to Honorable Peace;
Allies Take 4 More SiciIian Towns
Heavy Casualties
Are Inflicted on
Retreoting Axis


NORTH AFRICA, July 29.--
American and Canadian troops
pushing steadily into Northeast
ern Sicily under strong aerial
support, have captured four
more towns, including the vital
central road junction of Leon
forte, and have inflicted heavy
casualties on retreating Axis
forces, the Allies announced to-
day. ~ ~-
Canadian columns smashed their
way into Leonforte, miles north
east of Emma, In fierce fighting while
the American 7th Army, pounding
eastward along the coast from
Palermo, captured the towns OF
Pollina, Castelbuono and Gangi.
Axis prisoners in the 20-day-old
campaign have now risen to $4,000
with approximately three-fourths OF
them captured by the Americans, it
was announced.
With the occupation of Pollina,
representing a one-day advance of
about 8 miles from the port OF
Cefalu, which was taken the pre-
vious day, the American armored
spearhead had reached a point only
IS miles from Messina. jumping off
place for Axis forces defending the
island.
Drive Progressing Steadily.
Castelbuono and Gangi are inland
towns, on an approximate line be-
tween Pollina and Leonforte, and
announcement of their fall disclosed
that the American-Candian east
ward push was a co-ordinated. dove
failing advance that the enemy ap-
parently was powerless to stop.
Today's brief Allied communiuue
telling of the steady progress" of
this drive made no mention of the
fighting around Catania, southern
anchor Of the Axis Mount Etna de-
Tense line, where the British 9Th
Army has been stalled against the
enemy's stubborn defense for nearly
a week.
The right wing of the American
onrush over a 40-mile front was
about II miles from Leonforte, from
which the Canadians were driving
forward.
Beating back elite regiments of
the 18th German Armored Division,
the Canadians found Nazi dead piled
in heaps on the outskirts of one I'M
named city, an Official report said.
Capture of Leonforte cut the i'm
portant north-south highway, which
is well behind Axis lines on the
north coast and has been a ma jor
artery for movements of troops be-
tween the enemy center and left
wing.
Nazis Reported Killing Italians.
A German prisoner was officially
reported to have said that the Nazis
were killing their Italian allies
whenever the latter attempted to
surrender.
San Stefano, northern anchor Of
the Axis defense line, is 10 miles
east of the American forward ele-
ments. This town and Nicosia. 7
miles east of Leonforte, are the next
key points along the American and
Canadian advance. Their capture
virtually would clear the entire cen
trail and northern areas of the Etna
Line and initiate the final critical
stage of the campaign in the COM
plex foothills and mountains near
Messina.
(The German radio reported
today that Axis forces had aban-
doned Nicosia.)
Today's Allied communique said
fierce fighting continues on the
on the enemy. Steady progress is
being made. The town OF Leonforte
Is now In our hands.
I'm the north the advance of the
tAmerican 7th Army continues and
the towns of Pollina, Castelbuono
and Gangi have been captured"
American Flyers Busy.
American Invader and Warhawk
planes subjected enemy defenses
and communications to heavy as
saults yesterday and were credited
with the destruction of at least 80
motor vehicles. .....
.(The Italian high command
said in communique broadcast
from Rome and recorded by the
Associated Press that Allied
pressure in central and northern
sectors of Sicily had been re-
(See SICILY, Page A-30