SEVERE STRUGGLE EXPECTED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 21, 20 October 1943, Page 5

SEVERE STRUGGLE EXPECTED

Counter-Attacks Fail

(Received October 19, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 18.

Severe fighting is expected along the coast of Italy, a foretaste of which has already come in the shape of several heavy counter-attacks, all of which were repulsed, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters. The Germans’ resistance is stiffening on the central sector as General Montgomery’s drive westward increasingly menaces the Germans’ left flank on the Volturno.

Offensive patrols from the Eighth Army operating five miles ahead of the main forces which fought their way into Montecileone found the Germans in considerable strength. Desperate street fighting occurred before our men withdrew after inflicting heavy losses. The immediate objective of the Eighth Army’s thrust along the Foggia-Rome road is the vital communications centre of Isernia, 20 miles north of the captured town of Vinchiaturo. General Montgomery at Isernia by swinging 20 miles along the road westward could cut the German retreat by the inland highway from Capua to Rome. Fires which are visible behind the enemy lines along the whole front indicate that the Germans are continuing to scorch the countryside as they retreat. Front-lino reports today give gains of Hire miles in some sectors and an Allied bridgehead varying from two and a half to six miles deep. The British United Press, referring to the Volturno River sector, says that there is much difficult country to be crossed before the Fifth Army reaches a point from where an open drive can be launched. Cairo radio says that the German retreat at some points on the Volturno front has become so rapid that the Allied troops have lost contact. The Americans have occupied all the dominating heights north-east of Capua. Troops of the Fifth Army east of Capua have driven the Germans back nearly four miles.