The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-14
ALLIED INVASION ARMIES WIN ON S|CIL|AN FRONTS
By United Press

Allied invasion armies scored gen. eral advances in all sectors of the Sicilian front as they drove toward the keystone bases of Catania on the east coast and Agrigento on the south, occupying Augusta early to- day after destroyers shelled the big naval base.
 Achievements were pouring ashore as the giant bridgehead across southeast Sicily bulged into new Axis territory. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's headquarters an- nounced that "disembarkation pro- ceeded smoothly"
 In addition to Augusta, the Allies captured Ragusa, communications center where American and Cana dian troops made a junction yester- day. and Marc.
 Warships and massive fleets of planes gave the land armies power full support. Besides shelling Angus ta, where the Italian 206th oCastal Division was almost obliterated, nav al units bombarded Catania and hurled shells into the ranks of Ger AIAdlk dAlllOlCo 1OAICo SOllOCOVAllS UllC Americans on the south coast.
 Strong Opposition
 The United States troops fighting in the Gela-Licata area appeared to be up against the strongest opposi- tion encountered anywhere on the front cutting across the southeast corner of Sicily and being extended on both wings.
 Official reports failed to make clear the extent of the drive up the east coast toward Catania, but with the fall of Augusta that prime ob- jective was only 19 miles ahead.
 Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery's troops we're reported to have broken out onto the Catania plain, biggest flatland on the island, at the north east edge of which lies the city of Catania, second largest in Sicily.
 Lieut.. Gen. George s. Patton's United States forces appeared to be running head-on into a show down battle with Axis armor be- lieved to be concentrated in the Agrigento area.
 Superb Support
 Superb support of hte invasion forces by Allied air fleets sank two more Axis supply ships, damaged two destroyers and doWned 42 enemy planes in dawn to dusk pounding of Sicilian transport, shipping and strong points.
 The Royal Air force meanwhile, hit hard at the German industrial and railway center of Aachen, city of 100000 across the northeast border of Belguim.
 Twenty big British bombers were lost in the assuilt on the city of steel works, chemical plants and railways, raided for the 18th time of tlle war, clouds obscured results of the bombardment, but the loss of score of planes indicated some hundreds Wer engaged.
 As the last of the night raiders returned home the first of the day shift struck out across the channel. Big formations of Allied planes, in- cluding four -motored bombers - possibly American Flying Fortresses -roared high over southeast Eng
 
 land enroute to pound the con- tinent.
 Sharp Air Blow
 The Germans struck a sharp air blow in reprisal during the night, and in at least one coastal town of England rescue squads still were digging into wreckage for dead or wounded. Lone raiders flew over London, but dropped no bombs.
 On the eastern front, signs mounted that the German offensive against the Red Army's Kursk Sailent-had almost petered out. discal failure by Soviet accounts.
 After 10 days of bloody fighting, the Orel-Belgorod battle on a 165- mile line curving around Kursk appeared to have reached it's turn Ing point, with the Russians Wrest- Ing the initiative from Marshal Gunther von Klungss army and oummeling it with counter-bloWs of growing weight.