ON WIDE FRONTS IN ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 October 1943, Page 3

ON WIDE FRONTS IN ITALY

Fifth and Eighth Armies CONSIDERABLE GAINS MADE EAST OF VOLTURNO LINE POWERFUL BOMBING ATTACKS ON AIRFIELDS IN GREECE . LONDON, October 10. In Italy the Fifth and the Eighth armies have battled their way forward on wide fronts. The Eighth Army has extended its hold on the Adriatic port of Termoli and has pushed the Germans back several miles along a line running 50 miles south from the town. It has captured half a dozen places, including one in the mountains in the centre of Italy. South-west of this area, on the right flank of the Fifth Army, the enemy has also been pushed back several miles on a 30-mile front. This brings the right flank of the Fifth Army level with its left flank along the Volturno River. A correspondent states that both sides are closely watching each other across the river. There has been a considerable exchange of artillery and small arms fire. Active infantry patrolling has been continued across the river. The recent rains have helped the Germans. The enemy is massing in considerable force on the north bank of the river, ready to counter-attack if the Allies make a crossing.

An Army spokesman told correspondents that the Germans were using forced labour to build a defence line along the Volturno River. They were also preparing another line further northi Two and perhaps three major battles could be expected before the Allies reached Rome, So far the progress made was well up to expectations. Allied planes of the North African Command struck their heaviest blows against German air strength in the Balkans today, when they attacked eight big airfields in Greece and on the islands of Crete and Rhodes. They destroyed many aircraft on the ground, hit hangars and blew up fuel and ammunition dumps. The only place where German fighters came up in force was at an airfield near Athens. The Fortresses shot down five out of 15 enemy fighters. Not one bomber was lost in any of these attacks.

Lightning long-range fighters shot down 15 Stuka divebombers and a Junkers 88 over the sea near Rhodes. Middle East bombers attacked shipping near Kos.