Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
Sicily: Second Phuse

Sicily: Second Phase
The first phase of the Allied inva-
sion Of Sicily has been successfully
completed. A series of landings on
the southeastern quarter of the is
land covering about 100 miles of
coast were made with slight enemy
opposition and light casualties. With
all due credit for the clockwork eff
cheney of the combined naval, air and
ground arms, this is not surprising.
Allowing for all sinuosities, Sicily has
nearly 1000 miles OF coast line. Even
had the Axis garrison numbered the
estimated 100000, it would have been
impossible for them to throw a
strong Gordon around the entire
coast. The alternative was to mass
the bulk of their forces at strategic
inland points, ready to counterattack
as soon as the main Allied landings
were apparent and resigning them
selves to those landings. Thus the
Allied troops were opposed by only
thin screen of Axis defenders. and
even these may have been largely
territorial troops and militia. which
would account for reports that the
Italians are fighting poorly. Beach
defenses, mostly pillboxes, could be
easily demolished by the heavy bonn
bardment laid down at all landing
points by Allied warships offshore
and by our protecting umbrella of
airplanes.
The makeup of the invading forces
is becoming apparent. Americans
form the bulk of the troops landed
on the southwestern coast, Cana
dams at the southern tip and detach-
ments of the famous British Eighth
Army in the southeastern sector.
This last is strategically the most
important operation thus far, and it
has already won a notable success by
capturing the city of Syracuse with
it's excellent harbor suitable for deep
draft ships, together with a first
class landing field and seaplane base.
Furthermore, a 30-mle push up the
coast would bring the British to
Catania, another good harbor and
the junction of the central railway
line which is the main Axis commu-
nication route through the interior.
Its capture would badly disrupt the
entire Axis defensive system.
However, the latest indications are
that the Axis high command is well
aware of the danger and Is throwing
in some of its best troops, including
Germans, to hold back the British
advance. Between Syracuse and
Catania lies an extensive plain suit
able for mechanical warfare. As
suming that the Allies are rushing
big tanks and other heavy equipment
through the port of Syracuse, the
Catanian plain should soon witness
a major clash the outcome of which
will 20 far to determine the length of
Axis resistance.
Meanwhile, the Allies are seeking
to consolidate their grip on the whole
southeastern corner of the island,
turning it into a solid base for a gen.
eral advance toward the center OF
Sicily. AS yet, there have been no
attempts to land on the western
corner of the island, or on its north
ern face. Such landings may, OF
course, occur, in order to disperse
the Axis garrison and prevent con-
centration in the southeast. The AL
lies undoubtedly possess ample man
power for concentric attacks around
the entire island. 1t is merely
question which strategy will be most
effective and least costly.
Thus far, we seem to have marked
preponderance in the air, though
this may not continue if the Axis
high command decides to throw in
enough planes from nearby bases on
the Italian mainland. There have
been no signs of the Italian fleet, so
our naval ascendancy is absolute and
has not been even challenged.
Such, roughly, is the known situa-
ton as the invasion goes into its
fourth day. Initial successes have
been highly gratifying from every
angle, and the prospects look good.
But the next phase is bound to be
harder, unless resistance unexpec-
tedly weakens or collapses. The main
lob is still to be done.