Evening star., 1943-07-17
Towns
To Key Plain
AreCaptured
Situation of Axis
In Eastern Sicily
Reported Critical
BULLETIN.

CdSIlnS CO., III TdQlO report
from a British cruiser off the
East Sicilian coast, said today
the Germans now are at
tempting to rally their forces
at the foot of Mount Etna,
after combined Warship and
artillery bombardments had
blasted a path for British ar
mored units into the suburbs
of Catania." Mount Etna lies
just to the north of Catania.
Since early Friday after
noon" he said, "the roads be-
hind Catania have been our
target"
BY the Associated Press
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA, July 1.-THE
Axis situation around Catania in
Eastern Sicily was reported in
front-line dispatches tonight to
be growing more critical by the
hour.
The Allied announcement that a
joint Americana British military gov
ernment had been established ashore
and was beginning to take control
was interpreted as meaning that
complete occupation of Sicily was
considered to be only a matter OF
time.
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery
British 9th Army was believed to be
approaching the outskirts of the city
after smashing back the Hermann
Goering Division and elements Of
the 18th German Armored Division
In the biggest battle yet fought in
the Allied invasion of Sicily.
Fleet Aids Advance.
Going forward with a powerful
Allied war fleet on his seaward
flank cunning the enemy's posi-
tions, Gen. Montgomery has cap
tured both Lentini and Scordia. at
the entrance to the Catania Plain,
Allied headquarters announced,
while on all other parts of the Allied
| front the advance continued.
Lentinl is about Is miles below
Catania. the prize seaport and air
base half way up the East Sicilian
coast, and Scordia is 9 miles inland
from Lentini.
A British Broadcasting Corp. re-
port from Algiers said the 9th Army
was less than miles from Catania.
Canadians Take Caltagirone.
Rounding out the capture of four
more towns by the Allies. the Cana
dians took Caltagirone. 20 miles in
| land from the American bridgehead
at Gela, and Grammichele, s miles
| to the east
Seizure Of Caltagirone placed the
Allies in position to threaten the
right flank of the Germans defend
ing Catania.
With French Goumiers, fierce
knife and tommygun welding war
riors from the Moroccan hills, on
their left flank, the Americans Of
1t. Gen. George S. Patton. jr., were
believed to have emerged from the
hilly ground which ringed their
beachheads and to have penetrated
inland for perhaps 80 miles
The Canadians had cut into the
heart of the emeny's defense sys-
tenn in Central Sicily by their cap
ture of Caltagirone, about % miles
due west of Gen. Montgomery i
forces at Lentini
Communications Aided.
The whole Allied line in that Sec
tor had moved up almost abreast of
Gen. Montgomery, and the new
surge gave the Allies possession of
a lateral east-west highway and a
valley running east-West which will
greatly facilitate the task of mair-
tanning unbroken communications
with the British 9Th Army.
The London Daily Express said
American and Canadian troops also
were pouring onto the Catania Plain
from the Vizzini area. joining hands
with Gen. Montgomery for a push
on Catania. key Sicilian port and air
base midway up the east coast.
The Algiers radio said the British
were attacking the outer defenses
of Catania itself.
Indicating that the Americans
were putting on powerful push to
broaden their coastal base to the
west also. the italian high COM
mand announced in its communique
that bitter battle was raging near
Agrigento, as we'll as near Catania.
Agrigento is about IL miles west
of Naro. captured by the Americans
a few days ago. and only three or
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