OF ENEMY HILL DEFENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 September 1943, Page 3

OF ENEMY HILL DEFENCES

Covering the Plain of Naples ALLIED FORCES ADVANCING ALL ALONG LINE TURNING POINT REACHED IN BATTLE LONDON, September 27. On the Italian front, the Allies have advanced all along the line. British troops have penetrated deep into the enemy’s hill defences covering the Naples Plain. A correspondent states that the Allies have arrived at the turning point in the battle for Naples and that it is only south of the city that the Germans are still fighting stubbornly. British troops are now 20 miles from Naples at one point. Advances are also reported by the American troops on the right flank. They are only a few miles from the main enemy supply line. The Eighth Army is moving rapidly ahead north-east of the main battle area, against little enemy opposition. A place 30 miles from Foggia has been captured. Medium bombers and fighter-bombers continue to attack German transport and troop concentrations, without meeting any enemy opposition. The Allied planes suffered no losses. In Corsica; French troops continue to harass the enemy in the north-eastern corner of the island. The enemy has been forced to evacuate an airfield and road junction half-way along the eastern coast. .

The Germans continue to evacuate men and material from Bastia and another port ten miles to the south. The enemy is being badly mauled by Allied planes and British submarines. Submarines have torpedoed one large ship and three small vessels and have sunk or damaged others by gunfire. (A British Official Wireless message, received yesterday, quoted a communique issued by French Headquarters in Algiers as stating that Bastia had been taken).