TERMOLI LANDING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 October 1943, Page 3

TERMOLI LANDING

GERMAN GARRISON CAUGHT IN BED KESSELRING’S PROBABLE TACTICS ATTEMPTS TO DELAY ALLIED ADVANCE (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 5. The British raiders who landed at > Termoli caught almost the whole of the’ enemy garrison in bed, says Reuter’s correspondent. “Our men,” he adds, “swamped the few posts on the beach and then tore through the village streets, spraying every German they saw with tommy-gun and rifle fire.” Marshal Kesselring is reported to be sending troops from the Volturno Line to Rome. A report from Madrid states that the estimated equivalent of two divisions arrived in Rome on Saturday. Some Allied correspondents believe Kesselring will not lose much lime in going north, to link up with the main German forces under Rommel. Other correspondents, however, consider that Kesselring is unlikely to order a further retreat without strong pressure by the Allies. He will probably follow Rommel’s tactics in his retreat across Libya —holding successive positions in sufficient strength to force the Allies to deploy their main strength to deal with him and then withdrawing to another position before being brought to battle. This would impose a maximum delay on the Allies without further depleting the weakened German forces. “SATANIC DEVICES” EMPLOYED BY GERMANS. TO DELAY ALLIED ADVANCE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, October 6. In both the coastal sectors and the centre, a correspondent at Allied Headquarters in Italy states, the Allied troops are meeting with a stiffening German resistance, and any advance is likely to be slow. The correspondent adds that this is particularly true of the Fifth Army sector, “where we are meeting most satanic delaying devices, and where our infantry,, after most bitter fighting, is dislodging the enemy from well-organised strongpoints. The Germans have taken every advantage of orchards, rocks, walls and small water-courses to establish themselves

and conduct delaying actions. Nevertheless, our progress is steady, if slow.” When British forces took Termoli they captured Majoi' Rau, commanding a German battle group. He was in bed, states a correspondent.