Evening star., 1943-07-12
Sicily
CONTINUED From First Page.)
(COntlnued From F1rSL PageD
stroying 400 or more of the enemy's s
vehicles.

stroying 400 or more of the enemy's
vehicles.
Men and Supplies Pour In.
Allied naval forces, unhampered
by the Italian fleet, continued to
pour men and supplies into the
bridgeheads stretching for 100 miles
along Sicilys southeastern coast for
the rapid push up sicilys eastern
shore, and hurled shells into the
enemy's communications and de-
fenses.
The enemy's air opposition was
Allied headquarters said.
tThe Berlin radio declared that
a total of seven British, Ameri-
can and Canadian divisions al
ready had landed in Sicily.
(Giving this figure in broad
cast recorded by the Ministry OF
Information, Capt. Ludwig Serto-
rius. Transocean military COM
mentator. asserted that Gen.
Eisenhower undoubtedly can, II
he desires. double the forces
already landed)
(Sertorious reported that a
British army of four divisions was
operating on the coast between
Cape Passero and Cape Croce
tAugusta). The Allies have an
nounced that the British already
have taken Syracuse. main city
in this strip.
(An American force Of two di-
visions. plus one Canadian di-
vision, is operating from Licata to
Cape Scaranlia, the broadcast
said.
The Allied objective, Sertorius
said. is to encircle German and
Italian forces in the southeast
Sicilian mountains or force them
to retreat beyond Palma and
Catania"
Licata. 80 miles to the west on
the south coast; Pachino, on Cape
Passero at the extreme southern tip
of the island; Ayola and Noto, mid
day between Syracuse and Pachino;
Pozzallo, site of an important air
base on the south coast: Celia
Scogltti, 1spica and Rosolini were
among the captured places listed
in todays Allied headquarters COM
munique.
American troops in the Celia area
beat of counterattacks by the
Italians 4th Livorno Division and
as tanks in the heaviest of all the
seven enemy counterblows
The 54th Napoli Division was
driven out Of Syracuse by the Brit
ish-a lightning blow at the END
Of the second day of the Allied in
vasion which appeared to be a seri-
Gus handicap to the enemy in
bringing up reinforcements to meet
a rapidly-swelling penetration into
the interior Of the island.
The civilian population seemed
more pleased to see us than they had
been to see the Huns" said one OBJ
server.
Furious Air Action.
The swift occupatio Of the string
Of ports and towns along a 100
mile stretch of Sicily's southeastern
coast was accompanied by furious
air action yesterday in which fleets
of fast new American A-36 fighter
bombers smashed at least 400 enemy
vehicles endeavoring to rush troops
and supplies for counterattacks, and
heavy blows by four -engined and
medium bombers at Catania, the
Sicilian airdromes of Milo, Sciacca
and Gerbini and two other air.
drcmes at and near Reggie Calabria
on the italian mainland.
Flames from Catania's railway
yards gave of smoke visible for lac
miles at sea after a Flying Fortress
formation roared homeward, leaving
fires raging in oil storage dumps.
As Enemy Planes Shot Down.
Swarms of Allied fighters patrolled
the beaches. protecting the opera
tions, however, and As enemy air
craft were shot down yesterday
Nine Allied planes were lost.
Casualties among the Allies con-
tinued much less than might nor
mslly be expected in such a sweeping
offensive. it was said at Allied head
quarters.
AS result Of the swiftness of
Allied action. it was said at head
quarters that the enemy was being
compelled to regroup his forces and
most Of his counterattacks up to
now had been comparatively weak
Most Of the Italians, especially
were reported fighting poorly. and
most of the 1000 prisoners taken
were Italians.
Between the wings Of the Allied
forces, buttressed at Licata on the
west and Syracuse on the east were
the important towns Of Ragusa and
Modica.
(Algiers broadcasts said sharp
fighting was taking place between
Allied forces and $4,000 Germans
near Ragusa, a little more than
10 miles inland and almost mid
way between Syracuse and Licata.
The broadcast was repeated by
the London radio, and recorded
In New York;
The series OF Allied victories wa!
achieved with dazzling speed a,
troops seasoned by hard comba
under the Stars and Stripes II
Tunisia drove into the hardest cor.
Of enemy resistance around Licatt
and Celia and bore the brunt OF tn,
enemy countercharges with de-
termined fury.
Syracuse Invaluable Prize.
Syracuse was an invaluable priz'
for the Allies, for Its splendid por