THE CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1943, Page 3

THE CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

Battle for Naples About to Begin ISLANDS ROUND BAY IN ALLIED HANDS Z GERMANS DRIVEN OUT OF SARDINIA BY ITALIAN FORCES LONDON, September 19. The Allies have a new unsinkable aircraft carrier in the centre of the Western Mediterranean—the island of Sardinia. Italian forces have attacked the Germans and compelled them to evacuate the island. The latest news at Allied Headquarters is that the Germans have almost completed the evacuation of their forces to Corsica. The loss of Sardinia to the enemy gives to the Allies many military airfields, which place Allied bombers within easy flying’ distance of the whole of the German-occupied coast of Italy and the south of France. The latest reports from Italy suggest that the battle of Italy is entering a new phase. Allied forces are driving forward and troops and equipment are pouring ashore at a faster rate than ever. The United Nations Algiers radio states that the battle for Naples is about to begin and is bound to be a tough fight. The Eighth Army continues to advance at a rapid rate, but there is no word as to the point reached. The island of Ischia, off Naples, surrendered to Allied naval forces on Thursday and a garrison is being installed there, a British Official Wireless message states. The Allies now occupy a chain of islands from Capri, 80 miles westward, to Ponza, which is 70 miles from Rome. The chain includes Procida, which is only about two miles from the shore west of Naples. J A correspondent at Allied Headquarters states that the Allied line runs across Italy from Salerno south-east for 25 miles, then due south 15 miles, then north-east right across country to the Bari region, on the east coast. The air battle is advancing ahead of the troops. Yesterday, Allied aircraft struck one of the most crippling blows of the campaign against German airfields. Four of the enemy’s main airfields in Central and Southern Italy were raided and many enemy aircraft were left blazing on the ground. Few enemy fighters were seen and not one was encountered over the Salerno coast. In the Eastern Mediterranean yesterday R.A.F. planes from the Middle East met a force of German bombers and fighters. They shot down five Junkers 88s and two Messerschmitt 109 s. Six more small Italian warships, including a gunboat and a minesweeper, have arrived at Haifa, in Palestine. The Algiers radio reports that Marshal Badoglio is now with the Allies.