Late News OFFENSIVE ON VOLTURNO

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 17, 15 October 1943, Page 6

Late News OFFENSIVE ON VOLTURNO

Fifth Army Storms West Bank

FURIOUS BATTLE

Earlier Nazi Attack Repulsed

LONDON. October 14. The hattie to drive the Germans out of Italy has been joined again. General Mark Clark’s Fifth Army Juts struck hard at the enemy on the Volturno River, and several bridgeheads have been made in fierce fighting. Allied tanks have been brought across the river, and our planes are out in force over the battle area.

Heavy lighting is going on on the German side of the river, with the enemy throwing into the battle everything he has, including for the first time in weeks squadrons of the Luftwaffe. Today’s Allied communique says that the assault was launched on Tuesday night, the conditions being favourable, with the ground dry enough to permit movement off the roads. The enemy is fighting fiercely. Our bombers have attacked tanks and troop concentrations in the battle area, and on Tuesday night scored a direct hit on a German ammunition store. A correspondent says that the Germans expected the attack and tried to forestall it by themselves thrusting across the river. Some of their troops got across, and there was fierce fighting on the south bank in and round the town ot Capua. Then the Germans were flung back, and our attack was launched at once in great strength. Under Intense Fire. The troops crossed the river in, assault boats and other craft, while the Germans concentrated on them all possible mortar, machinegun and rifle fire, and later our bridgeheads were subjected to counterattacks, one of which was broken up by Allied fighter-bombers. The Allies are now astride Hie road to Rome north of the river, but heavy fighting is continuing. The Germans are believed to have seven divisions in southern Italy, and most of these are on the Volturno River. Further inland forces of the Fifth and Eighth Armies have made new advances and are within seven miles of A’inchiatura. Allied bombers yesterday attacked tnc German airfield at Tirana, capital of Albania.