Imperial Valley press., 1943-07-12
Gems. Patton and
Monty
Continued from Page y

Sva~sssX
Continued from Page II
Just north of Celia and then re-
pulsed the heaviest of seven enemy
counterattacks by turning back the
Italian fourth Livorno division in
hard fighting.
The advance continues today's
communique from Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower stated and dispatches
from forward areas described the
offensive as moving into high gear
against stiff Axis opposition.
The population of Sicily was de-
scribed as showing great friendli-
ness toward the invasion forces
and as being willing to cooperate.
The Allies now are astride the
vital road running from PozZallo,
which surrendered to an Allied de-
stroyer, to Syracuse, which British
and Canadian troops stormed and
took at pm. on Saturday. They
were opposed by the Italian 54th
(NapolD division, based near Syra-
cuSe.
CASUALTIES LIGHT
Allied casualties still were de-
scribed as comparatively light.
axis broadcasts and communi-
queS continued vague except to
claim that there was bitter fight
ing on Sicily and that counter-at-
tacks had defeated the Allies at
several points The enemy claims
hits on three cruisers and said that
eight ships had been sunk
Strong winds on the first night
of the invasion caused difficulty for
Allied paratroops, who were scat
tered more widely than intended.
They got together however, in suf-
ficient force to reach the first plan
ned objective. They were later
driven off by the enemy but sue
ceeded in making contact with in
vading ground troops and made a
new stand.
The point of greatest penetration
by the Allies appeared to be Roso-
lini, about Is miles inland on the
southeast coast, but dispatches re-
ported deep penetration at sew
eral points.
Pilots returning to North African
bases said they could see old Glory
flying on the beaches" in Southern
Sicily and American trucks and
jeeps jamming roads inland.
THE beaches we're crammed with
trucks and mechanical equipment" "
one pilot said. 1T was grand to
see the American flag flying in the
breeze. We could also see Ameri-
can warships in action off the
coast
The pilots said the invasion forces
were tanning out toward the inland
mountains and that everything
looked pretty good" although there
was stronger Wuftwaffe opposition.
Air fleets of the United Nations,
meeting slightly increased Axis air
opposition. destroyed about so enc
my aircraft to maintain aerial su-
periority above the invasion forces
and strike with heavy bomb loads
at Axis front and rear bases in Sic
lily and lower Italy.
Allied naval forces continued to
disembark reinforcements and sup
plies and destroyers bombarded the
Sicilian coastal town of Pozzallo
and the railroad line between Syra-
cuse and RaguSa. on the east coast
The towns capture included i'm
portant ports and air bases in a
1O0-mile strip along the south
eastern coast of Sicily from Syra-
crye around the corner of the is
land of Licata in the west.
Syracuse, a port of $4,000 popu-
lation at one time. was captured
By the British.
The towns captured were:
Syracuse, one of the important
ports and communications centers
south of Catania Avola, Motto
which is on the railroad few
miles inland and south of SYRIA
cuse: Pachino, an air base on the
southeastern tip: Syogglitti, Gela
an air base on the south coast: l.
-cats. an air base and coastal city;
Ispicia. Rosolini, IS miles inland
and Pozzallo.
American forces captured Licata
one of the main enemy air bases on
the central sector of the south
coast. and ran up the Stars and
Stripes over the harbor. The navy
Immediately began pouring rein
forcements an dsupplies into the
port.
The Eisenhower commUnique
giving the most complete picture
so far of the invasion. made it
clear that the main communica-
tions lines in southeast Sicily were
largely in Allied hands. opening the
way for a pincers drive from the
Licata -Gela sector and the SYRIA
cuse region, which would be pre-
liminary TO moving northward to-
ward Messina.
American pilots returning from
machine cunning and wrecking