VALUE OF FOGGIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1943, Page 3

VALUE OF FOGGIA

STRESSED BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AIR COVER FOR ALLIED FORCES. BASE FOR GREAT EXTENSION OF BOMBING ATTACKS. LONDON, September 29. Armoured and other mobile forces of the Eighth Army, after storming Foggia, have advanced considerably north of the town and its airfields. “The capture of Foggia is one of the most important Allied successes of the war from a strategic point of view, as it brings the Allied .air forces nearer to Germany and will permit air cover for all*operations henceforth in Italy and the* Adriatic coast area, specially in nortl/ern Italy,” said President Roosevelt. He added that he was not disclosing a military secret when he said that the German General Staff had drawn circles round several strategic spots in Europe with Foggia in the centre. “Heretofore a very large part of Germany lias been sleeping outside the vulnerable area, but now it will not be able to do so,” Mr Roosevelt said. “The victory stands out as a demonstration of the complete co-operation between the Allied land, air and naval forces.” The Germans left a large amount of rolling stock, including 20 or 30 locomotives, on the sidings outside Foggia, say correspondents at the Allied headquarters. The equipment is mostly undamaged. The main airfield is littered with wrecked planes and almost every house is damaged and every street bomb-cratered. ITALIAN DESTROYER SUNK OFF SPANISH COAST. ACCORDING TO GERMAN RADIO. LONDON, September 29. The German overseas radio says that the Italian destroyer Vivaldi was sunk

off the Spanish coast while trying to reach Gilbraltar. Sixty survivors were interned at Cartagena.