GOOD PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1943, Page 3

GOOD PROGRESS

MADE BY ALLIED FORCES ON CENTRAL FRONT IN ITALY THREAT TO ENEMY FLANK & COMMUNICATIONS. DIVIDED GERMAN COMMAND. LONDON, October 13. In Italy, the Allies have macle considerable progress on the central sector, where their advance threatens the flank of the Volturno line and also the cross communications of the German forces on the west and east coasts of Italy. The Allied advance in the centre is described as rapid in the conditions prevailing.

The German forces now facing the Allies in southern Italy from the 10th Army under the command of ColonelGeneral von Vietinghoff. So far seven divisions have been identified. Four are panzer divisions and two are panzer grenadiers. There is also the First Parachute Division. This army would appear to comprise the troops under the command of Air Marshal Kesselring, who divides the ' command in Italy, with Field-Marshal Rommel, the latter remaining in the north. What forces Rommel has under him will be known definitely when we make contact with them, but it may well be that they comprise about 10 divisions. It has never been clarified which of the two marshals is considered the senior, and it is generally known that they do not see exactly eye to eye. It is believed, however, that neither has an independent command, and that both are acting directly under the chief of the general staff. There is a third marshal, von Richtofen, in the field in command of the air forces, and he presumably works with Rommel or Kesselring as occasion demands. It is reported that three German divisions are waiting to oppose any crossing of the Volturno River between the sea and the junction of the Calore River, and that they include the I 16th Panzer Grenadier Division and the Hermann Goering Division. They have 100 tanks between them and their ‘ prtillery is considerable. THREE ALLIED COLUMNS ATTACKING IN ITALY CONTINUANCE OF BAD WEATHER. (Bi-itish Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, October 13. The Allied forces in Italy are now attacking in three distinct columns, stated the Algiers radio today. The first, starting from Foggia and consisting of Eighth Army units, is advancing in the direction of Rome; the second, consistingg also of Eighth Army units, is starting from the Termoli area and the third, the right flank of the Fifth Army, is penetrating into valleys of the Appenines, after having passed Ponte Landolfo. Thus the entire German line on the Volturno. River is menaced. Adverse weather conditions continue.