Evening star., 1943-11-21
BY Thomas r. Henry,
Star STAFF Correspondent,

layed). - A proud trophy of the ID
Armored Division-the only tank outfit
to take part in the Sicilian campaign
Is the Nazi nag which floated over Ger
man army headquarters in Palermo
when the advance patrols entered the
city.
1t is probably the only symbol of this
sort taken by Americans since the land
Ing IN North Africa last November, for
the old practice of taking enemy banners
as evidence Of victory seems to have
been discarded in this war.
Still the officers and men regard the
trophy with pride as memento of the
record-breaking progress of this division,
in itself small atmy and far more
difncult to move than regular division,
from Celia on the southwest coast
through almost unimaeinably difficult
country to the metropolis Of Sicily.
Armored Division in Action.
This difficulty can be appreciated
when it is realized that an armored divi-
sion in action has more than 5000 ves
hicles of all sorts with nucleus of over
200 tanks, that it stretches along the
road from go to 80 miles, and that
gallon of gas will only take heavy tank
q short distance.
Thus the mere problem of motor fuel
supply, even in country with good
roads, is enough to turn commanding
officers hair gray. Circumstances hardly
could have been worse than those under
which this problem was met in Sicily.
Roads at the best were narrow and
poorly constructed, especially through
the northwest part of the island where
the I'd Armored operated. There were
few bridges which had not been blown
1p by the Germans In their hasty re-
treat and there were frequent mine
fields.
At one stage in the advance blown
bridge across road skirting the side OF
a mountain halted the column. Running
parallel to the road was a railroad tunnel
through the mountain about 200 yards
long. The tunnel was barely big enough
to admit heavy tank 1t apparently
had not been damaged, but engineers
had not yet arrived to explore it for
mines. But it was the only way to get
ahead, SO the whole column went
through, the tanks following the rails
and humping over the ties. Fortunately
no mines were encountered.
Solar Plexus to the Axis.
After the first couple of weeks the ter
;o;1x ovtron1plv 11nS1llt-
able-in most places impossible-for
tank operations and the division was
forced to stay behind while the lnfan-
trv divisions continued through the
mountains to drive the Germans out OF
the island But to 1t belongs much OF
the credit for maintaining a successful
foothold on hostile SOIL for cutting OIL
Northwestern Sicily and for capturing
Palermo. 1t delivered a solar pleXus
punch to the Axis forces which did not
knock them out, but from which they
staggered for the rest OF the campaign.
The capture of Palermo was notable
as the first American adaptation of the
'pincers movement" made famous by
the Germans in their campaign through
the Low Countries and France. The
major approach of the tank division to
the city was through Monreale, ap-
preached by a long, narrow ravlne
through the mountains which, had 1T
been adequately defended, might have
held up progress long time. AS it was.
the few gun positions were f1anked by
the divisions dismounted armored in
fantry with very little resistance on the
part of the defenders and the tanks
rolled along without hindrance.
In the Jaws of the Pincers.
Some distance out of Palermo mo-
bile element of the division was de-
tached and sent through the hills to ap-
proach the city from the west along the
North Coast road The metropolis was
caught inextricaoly in the ''pincers" and
the German defenders had their first
experience of seeing this sort OF ma
neuver turned against themselves. They
knew enough to get out, leaving a lot of
valuable equipment behind, before the
jaws of the pincers closed.
Officers Of the I'd Armored point out
. fact perhaps not before recognized
that Palermo, with its population of
more than half million, is the largest
city ever captured by American troops.
No place approaching this size was
taken during the First World War and
none of the Southern cities which fell
during the Civil War had as many in
habitants.
While the I'd Armored was closing
the jaws of the pincers the Sd Infantry
Division was moving on the city along
another road slightly to the east and the
scouts of both divisions probably arrived
in the city at about the same time. But
the armored division had the flag, it's
scouts took over the post Office and thus
gained control of all communications
and it's counterintelligence officers
placed the Mayor under arrest. He was
q notorious Fascist.
All in all, its officers believe, its claim
on Palermo is we'll documented.
Fast Tank Action.
The divisions greatest services in the
campaign came at the start on the rela-
lively level Celia Plain where its tanks
were in operation 80 minutes after the
difficult landing through deep water
where the utmost skill was required on
the part of the drivers not to drown
the great motors on their way to the
beach.
Here four tanks fought knockout
battle with at least 30 German tanks
out of action. due largely to clever con-