DRIVE ON NAPLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 October 1943, Page 3

DRIVE ON NAPLES

FIFTH ARMY CLOSING IN STEADILY WARSHIPS SHELL RETREATING GERMANS. PALACE & FACTORIES WRECKED BY ENEMY. • (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, September 30. The latest dispatches from Italy say that the Fifth Army is steadily closing in on Naples, one force pushing north from Pompeii, 14 miles from the centre of Naples, and the other drawing over to Avellino. British warships in the Bay of Naples are reported to be shelling the retreating enemy. The Allied forces at one point are only two miles from the centre of Naples, says Morocco radio. Elsewhere they are 5| miles, and the average distance from the centre is four miles. The Germans have blown up the royal palace and other famous buildings in Naples from sheer spire, says an Italian officer who escaped from the city, Factory machinery was also destroyed. FOGGIA AS BASE OF GREAT VALUE TO ALLIES. IN EXTENDING OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN. LONDON, September 29. There is general endorsement here of President Roosevelt’s statement that the capture of Foggia airfield is one of the most important successes yet achieved by the Allied forces in Italy. Foggia has 13 airfields lying round it It is only 450 miles from Munich, 400 miles from Vienna, and 350 miles from Bolzano, which is just south of the Brenner Pass. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent in North Africa comments: “That Field-Marshal Kesselring could not defend Foggia is proof that all his available forces are grouped round Naples, and that they are insufficient to enable him to fight at both of them. He chose to defend Naples in spite of the fact that Foggia will provide the Allies not only with bases for the tactical air force which is brought within easy range of the whole Balkans as well as Austria and southern Germany.” The correspondent adds that while the Germans are bound to have left extensive mining and demolitions, the airfields can be put into operational order within two or three days. The “Daily Telegraph” in an editorial comments that possession of Foggia suggests that Allied reinforcements have been pouring in through Taranto, Brindisi and possibly Bari. GREAT TRIUMPH. The “News Chronicle’s” military correspondent considers the fall of Foggia V “great triumph,” but suggests that time will be required to build up an organisation for bombing fleets and amassing stores, spares and accessories, in addition to supplying fuel, ammunition and bombs. The correspondent adds: “The occupation of Foggia should prove a decisive factor which will vastly accelerate the completion of Allied operations in Italy. With Foggia in our hands, the fall of Naples is bound to follow soon.” Foggia’s bases of course, provide fighter cover as far as Rome. The “Daily Express” correspondent, Alan Moorhead, says that a sudden vast change has overtaken the area behind the battlefront in Italy. The Italians, greatly outnumbered the British •and Americans, are beginning to administer the country for the Allies “just as though there had never been such a thing as the Axis. They are starting to man roads, railways, ports and military encampments. “We have instructions not to treat this as occupied territory, but as the country of a friendly ally. The King and Marshal Badoglio are setting up an entirely new government on Italian soil. In the astonishingly short space of one fortnight, the Italians without any notable exceptions are turning their guns round on their former allies. BLUNDERED INTO TRAP GERMANS WHO ENTERED FOGGIA. — AFTER BRITISH OCCUPATION. LONDON, Septmber 30. Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army says that a wild west drama was enacted in Foggia on Tuesday when five German parachutist engineers in two cars loaded with explosives drove into the town to carry out a few final demolitions, not knowing that it was already occupied by British forces. Many British infantrymen were cooking an evening meal on the pavement over petrol fires. “They look like Germans,” said one as the cars passed. A shot rang out Some shouted: “They are Germans.” Then began a wild chase through the town. One car crashed into the ruins of the former Fascist headquarters when the driver was hit. The second car crashed into a lamp-post as British officers shooting from windows picked off the driver. The only other casualty was an Italian civilian who was killed by a burst from a German sub-machine gun. GERMANS RETREATING ON NINETY-MILE FRONT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, September 30. The Algiers radio says the Germans have begun a general retreat along a ninety-mile front. The Allies’ right wing has reached a point about 7| miles from Avellino. The Vichy radio quotes a German repcftPthat the Fifth Army’s attack has increased in vigour, particularly in the area of Pompeii. The Germans have been forced to evacuate a number of points in some sectors.

MATTER OF HOURS CAPTURE OF NAPLES. ANNOUNCEMENT BY ALLIED HEADQUARTERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, September 30. Allied headquarters has announced that the capture of Naples is now only a matter of hours, says the Cairo radio, GERMANS IN CORSICA PURSUED BY PATRIOTS. SUCCESSFUL AIR ATTACKS BY FRENCH. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, September 30. Despite demolitions and minefields, a shock battalion of patriots is pursuing the enemy from Aleria and Folelli, and there is some activity west of Bastia and Casamozza, states a Corsica communique. The French Air Force successfully attacked a convoy off East Bastia, and five French fighters intercepted an important enemy formation of bombers. Three enemy planes were destroyed and one was damaged. HEAVILY DAMAGED GERMAN WARSHIP IN AEGEAN. ATTACKED BY BEAUFIGHTERS. LONDON, September 30. A German warship in the Aegean has been heavily attacked by Beaufighters. It was escorting armed merchantmen which were also protected by two enemy aircraft, one of which was shot down. When last seen, the warship was enveloped in a heavy pall of smoke and was listing badly.