VOLTURNO LINE REACHED BY FIFTH ARMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 October 1943, Page 3

VOLTURNO LINE REACHED BY FIFTH ARMY

Further Landings in Termoli Area ALL ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS REPELLED ; AND HIGH GROUND TAKEN M ALLIED FIGHTERS AND FIGHTER-BOMBERS ■ ACTIVE ■ LONDON, October 8. In Italy the Fifth Army has captured Capua, 20 miles north of Naples, and the Eighth Army has gained more ground on the Adriatic coast, after repelling strong German counter-attacks. A seventeen mile stretch of the Volturno River, from Capua to the coast, has been reached by the Fifth Army. There is no news yet of any crossing of the river. A correspondent states that the Germans are hastily improving their defences on the north bank. Capua was captured after an eleven mile advance in several days of heavy fighting, through sticky mud and blinding rani, against many pockets of enemy resistance. Capua is on the main road and railway to Rome and also has an airfield. The Eighth Army, on the Adriatic coast, is still engaged in heavy fighting with strong German forces. The enemy has counter-attacked again and again at Termoli but General Montgomery’s men have repulsed all attacks and gained high ground round the town. Fighters and fighter-bombers were active again on the Eighth Army’s front. On airfields so far captured in Italy over 700 enemy aircraft have fallen into Allied hands.