Evening star., 1943-08-02


tured nine towns and possibly turnet
the Axis north flank
Axis reports said strong American
forces were veering southeastwart
from Central Sicily supporting th'
British drive. and a Rome broadcas
said Gen. Montgomery was method
ically nearing" Catania.
Gen. Montgomery, in a persona
message to his troops reminiscent O.
those which preceded his great of
fensives in North Africa, said tn,
Allies had knocked MuSSolini of
his perch" and we will now drive
the Germans from Sicily" Hi.
message was dated July 30
A great push by Gen. Montgomery
has been expected for nearly s
week, and he has been probing the
line for soft spots in the manner ir
which he customarilv feels out the
enemy while massing his own forces
Concerted drives bv Gen. Mont
somery snd Gen. Patton would
parallel the strategy employed in
Tunisia.
American torpedo boats incessant-
ly patroled the northern coastal
q waters in search of armed enemy
lighters and British cruisers and
destroyers were slipping tighter the
naval moose to choke off Axis re-
inforcements.
Today's Allied announcement also
belatedly confirmed the fall of MIS-
soria and Assora in the central sec
tor Just before Canadian-won Agra
Heavy Axis Casualties.
Everywhere the Germans were
offering the utmost suicidal resist
ance and suffering extremely seri-
GUS casualties, front line reports
stated The Germans we're said to
be contesting every inch of ground.
The Americans under cover of
shattering and accurate artillery
barrage stormed across the pin
cushion of strong points located in
the hills between San Stefano and
Nicosia. but the Canadians had to
battle for every hilltop and small
piece of ground.
1t was reported officially that the
Canadians were engaged in bitter
street fighting as they entered un-
issntified towns and villages.
Both target areas at, Naples and
Capooichino were well coNred by
bomb bursts" the headquarters
communique stated, and eight Axis
clnt in, io1
battles.
Transports Bombed.
The FortreSses planted 500-pound
bombs on two troop transports in
Naples Harbor, blew up gas works
and again battered the railway sta
tion, which was described officially
as almost completely destroyed"
At Capodichino great new holes
were blown in already damaged
hangers and administration build
ings and large number Of parked
aircraft was destroyed. Destruction
increased as big oil dump exploded,
spewing burning fuel over a group
of big transports nearby, Here oc-
CURED the aerial battles in which
eight enemy interceptors were
downed. Lightnings escorted the big
bombers.
tThe Italian high command
admitted considerable damage"
and listed 10 persons killed and
So injured at Naples. 1t said five
Allied raiders were shot down.
Other Allied planes ranged ahead
Of the attacking ground troops in
Sicily, with medium bombers ham
mering the port of Milazzo, used to
bring in Axis reinforcements, and
other planes hitting the vital COM
munications centers or Adrano and
Ranndazzo in the diminishing Axis
bridgehead.
Five enemy planes were shot down
over Sicily. besides the eight de-
stroyed over Italy itself, while one
Allied plane was lost in all opera
tions, headquarters said.
Allied seepower again carried the
war to the Italian mainland, with
warships bombarding the port of
Vibo Valentia Marina, on the south
side of the Gulf of San Eufemia so
miles northeast of Messina, a rail-
way bridge across the River Olivia %
miles to the north, and the harbor
of Crotone, on the Ionian Sea to the
southeast These actions were car
ried out from Saturday night
through early yesterday.
TWO good fires were started (at
Crotone) and two patrol craft were
sunk" said naval communique.
"Retaliatory fire from the shore
was ineffective"
Crotone had been heavily shelled
by the British in mid-July.
Round the Clock Bombings.
Allied air patrols maintained
ceaseless round the clock bombings
and strafing of enemy positions
ahead of the Allied ground troops
and were paying particular explosive
attention to Adrano and Randazzo,
focal points of the Axis defense sys-
tenn. through which supplies and re-
Inducements are sent to the front.
Three planes were shot down by
RAF coastal craft, which also at
tackled a large supply schooner off
Sardinia and left it burning.
Enemy shipping was caught at Mi
lazzo and the harbor itself was
given terrific pounding by swarms
OF Mitchells The south and west
sides of the port shuddered under
ring of direct hits, and explosions
were seen on the quay. Hits and
DETECTION hits were scored among
small boats.
Malta-based light bombers joined
the battle against enemy ground
forces on Sicily. pounding roads and
buildings. Malta night flg'lters de-
stroyed two German planes.