CITY AND PORT OF NAPLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 October 1943, Page 3

CITY AND PORT OF NAPLES

Occupied by Fifth Army Yesterday TROOPS ALREADY DRIVING NORTH ON ROAD TO ROME ONLY FRAGMENT OF CORSICA NOW HELD BY GERMANS LONDON, October 1. Troops of the Fifth Army today occupied Naples and are already reported to be advancing northwards towards the next objectives on the road to Rome. They entered Naples at eight o’clock this morning. Naples is one of the greatest prizes ever to fall into Allied hands. It is the biggest city in Southern Italy and is one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean. The Germans left it a cit& of ruin and desolation. The five German divisions defending Naples managed to get away, but many of the enemy’s rearguards, including some of his finest troops, are said to have been wiped out. For the past week there has been a huge black pall of smoke hanging over Naples. The Germans sank ships in the harbour, destroyed the water supply and blew up buildings of military value in an attempt to deny the Allies the use of Naples as a port and military centre. The enemy did not confine himself to buildings of military importance. Many beautiful and historic places, including the famous Royal Palace, are reported to have been wantonly destroyed. \ The Germans are also retreating east of Naples. While the left flank of the Fifth Army was closing in on the city yesterday, men on the right flank were marcihng into the important road and railway junction of Avellino, about 30 miles east of Naples. This advance brings our forces close to the line of the Volturno River, which it is thought possible the Germans might defend. ' The Algiers radio reports that the remaining German force in Corsica is concentrated in the Bastia area, in a small stretch of flat country south and south-east of the town. The end of German resistance is now near. The French have brought down 23 enemy planes in the last two days for the loss of two of their own.