ROMMEL’S FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 September 1943, Page 4

ROMMEL’S FORCES

WILL ATTEMPT TO HOLO OP EIGHTH ARMY . AND PREVENT ALLIED JUNCTION. DESCRIPTION OF THE NAVAL . BOMBARDMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 15. The Paris radio commentator, Jean Paquis, declared that the German High Command realises that the time factor is decisively important in the Salerno battle. Thus Remmel’s participation in the battle must be expected momentarily. Official German quarters say Rommel’s Army will b,ar the Eighth Army’s way around Agripoli and prevent a junction of the Fifth and Eighth armies, “which would change the whole aspect of the front.” Today’s German communique states: “Great successes have been achieved against the Allied landing forces on the Salerno-Eboli front, where the Germans encircled one British and American group and annihilated another. The British and Americans, who were thrown back near Eboli, are again offering resistance near the coast, unuer cover of their ships’ guns.” The big part the Navy is playing in the battle for Salerno is emphasised by Reuter’s correspondent with the fleet. He says: “Great clouds of cordite smoke fumes hang like a curtain in front of the warships ■ shelling the German positions. The thunder of naval guns reverberates around the Bay. Black columns of smoke mark the points where the naval gunners scored hits against enemy tank and transport concentrations. Hour after hour the cruiser in which I watched the bombardment shuddered from stem to stern as her guns fired rapid broadsides into the hills. A formidable screen of Allied fighters protects the warships in the daytime. The Luftwaffe is more i venturesome at night, but the tired naval gunners again spring to action stations. This goes on all night, but the roar of gunfire from the ships has never been silenced.”