ALLIED ADVANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1943, Page 4

ALLIED ADVANCE

GERMANS BEING FORCED BACK ALONG ENTIRE LINE IN ITALY MANY AIRFIELDS TAKEN QVER. ENEMY AIR OPPOSITION negligible. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, September 19. Front line despatches say the Allies are forcing the Germans back along the entire line in Italy. The Allied front is now continuous across southern Italy, from coast to coast. The Fifth Army, with its left flank pivoting on Salerno, is swinging through the Salerno plain, steadily extending its front. Patrols in some inland areas have failed to make contact with the Germans, but there is no sign of a precipitate German withdrawal. Allied guns and planes are pounding long transport columns moving northwards, apparent- ( iy to the Nocera Gap, on the road to' Naples. The Algiers radio says Allied motorised forces on the Adriatic coast are progressing rapidly towards Foggia. The column is being supplied from Brindisi, where supplies are being landed without interruption. Numerous Italian airfields are now in Allied hands. The Allies are using airfields in the Salerno area, including the Monte Corvino airfield. Allied headquarters officially state that German air opposition to the Allies’ non-stop onslaught is practically negligible. GREAT CONVOYS MOVING INTO THE EASTERN ‘ MEDITERRANEAN. GERMAN TALK OF ALLIES BEING FOILED. (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 19. Reports from La Linea state that three convoys, totalling over 100 freighters and tankers, passed from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean yesterday. German planes reported that great Allied transport armadas are moving eastwards from the Western Mediterranean. Today’s German communique says:— “The heavy battles after the Salerno landings have not given the British and Americans their expected strategic success. They have not succeeded in cutting off the German divisions stationed in southern Italy. Our troops, fighting greatly numerically superior forces, have prevented thp enemy .extending his bridgehead. By counter-attacks, despite heavy naval gunfire, we pressed the enemy back, with heavy casualties, to a narrow coastal strip. With the Germans in the Salerno area, the British and American operational plan, based on the Badoglio betrayal, has thus been completely foiled.” The communique claims that the Germans killed or wounded over 10,000, took 4,429 British and American prisoners,. and destroyed or captured 153 tanks. The Luftwaffe and the Navy, operating against the Allied landing fleet, between Septemebr 8 and 17, it adds, sank three cruisers, two destroy-: ers, one torpedo-boat, nine transports and 15 landing barges, and in addition damaged 125 merchant ships, nine tankers, nine landing barges and one patrol boat.