BATTLE FOR NAPLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 September 1943, Page 4

BATTLE FOR NAPLES

FIFTH ARMY MAKING SLOW HEADWAY AGAINST MOUNTAIN POSITIONS NORTH OF SALERNO. EIGHTH ARMY ADVANCES 30 MILES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, September 24. The Fifth Army is meeting strong opposition as it is pushing forward in its big new offensive on the Salerno front. Progress thus far has been slow against the German mountain positions guarding the route to Naples. The Eighth Army advanced 30 miles yesterday to capture Altamura. Reuter’s correspondent reports that the Fifth Army is advancing along the Contursi highway. The offensive was launched at dawn today, under a heavy artillery barrage. The Germans quickly realised the extent of the attack and brought into action every available gun, but failed to halt the advancing forces. The toughest fighting occurred north of Salerno, where the British troops are attacking under almost incredible difficulties to dislodge the Germans from the dominating heights on which they are firmly established. The British, in grim clashes in the valleys and on the mountainsides, made slight but painful progress. The battle is easier east of Salerno, where the Germans are still retreating. The Allied line now runs almost straight from the hills north of Salerno to Altamura, and then sweeps north-east to Bari. Far ahead of the advancing land forces, the Allied air forces are striking crippling blows against the German lines of communication leading to Naples. The Berlin radio commentator, Captain Sertorius. today admitted fierce engagements north of Salerno. “Increased R.A.F. activity and the appearance of numerous British and American land batteries, as well as extensive troop movements to the front,” he said, .“indicate that a new phase in the Allied offensive in Southern Italy is imminent.”

_ The German radio stated that the Allied High Command has concentrated a very considerable force in Italy. There are six British and three American infantry divisions, one British and one American airborne divisions and two British, and one American tank divisions, In addition there is a reserve of several divisions in Sicily for further operations. The radio added: “The enemy is using superior numbers of rplanes and put up a solid air umbrella over his ground forces and over shipping, the umbrella comprising shorebased and carrier-based fighters and also a mass of anti-aircraft fire, combining a form of defence of volcanic strength. Moreover, some of our pilots are young and have difficulty in adapting themselves to the climate.”