MAJOR BATTLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1943, Page 3

MAJOR BATTLES

LIKELY TO BE FOUGHT BETWEEN NAPLES AND ROME. PARIS RADIO REPORTS FRESH ALLIED LANDING. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 10. While the Fifth Army is consolidating its gains active patrolling is continuing across the swollen Volturno torrent. Allied scouts are crossing the river by day and night, probing the enemy positions on both sides. The Eighth Army has made an advance of four miles in difficult conditions. The Fifth Army now faces an army of 80,000 which Kesselring has massed to met the expected drive on Rome. An Allied official stated at a press conference that at least two and probably three major battles will be fought in western Italy between Naples and Rome. A British United Press correspondent with the Royal Navy at Salerno says that scores of invasion craft are unloading tanks, guns and munitions at Salerno for the big Allied push on Rome, There is more shipping in the harbour than during the first days of the invasion, and further huge convoys are coming in. The Paris radio reports a fresh Allied landing north of Volturno River. Battles are developing for a vital road which runs north-west from Ternioli along the Biferno River valley to' the mountains, say late messages from the Allied headquarters. The Germans are throwing in all their available forces to stop the Eighth Army’s advance. British troops are thrusting on beyond Larino simultaneously with a thrust by the Fifth Army’s right'wing, and together these attacks are opening up the possibility of a sideways sweep across Italy from the inner end of the Volturno River line.

General . Montgomery, inspecting troops at Termoli, said that the enemy had been taken by surprise, which showed that he did not expect the quick advance of the Allied armies. The Allied troops had encountered some difficulties and had overcome them magnificently. HIGH GROUND OVERLOOKING TERMOLI HELD FIRMLY BY EIGHTH ARMY (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Octobre 11. Since capturing Guglionesi, the Eighth Army holds all the high ground overlooking Termoli and the eastern lateral road, reports a correspondent. The Germans used Guglionesi for their supporting artillery when they attacked Termoli. The enemy had tanks and self-propelled guns in Guglionesi, which they withdrew early on Friday afternoon, but after sundown their forces returned and were observed by a patrol. The British attack on the town was made in moonlight, shortly before dawn. Guns put down a barrage on the German positions and, under cover of the barrage, infantry closed in from two sides. The Germans only waited to fire a few bursts of machine-gun fire at the infantry and then retired rapidly into the mountains, blowing up bridges on the northern side of the town.