ALLIED GRIP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1943, Page 4

ALLIED GRIP

TIGHTENED ON GERMAN ESCAPE GAP IN CENTRE OF BATTLEFRONT IN ITALY PROGRESS IN OUTFLANKING MOVEMENT (By Telegraph—-Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. General Alexander’s Army group, surging forward on the central front, is now menacing Vinchiaturo, a strategically important town on the Foggia-Rome Highway, and is tightening the net around the Germans’ twenty-mile escape gap. The Allied grip along the whole NaplesTermoli line is strengthening. • The right flank of the Fifth Army has captured Santa Croce, ten miles south-east of Vinchiaturo. The Eighth Army has occupied Bonefro, four miles from the Termoli-Naples Highway, and also Riccia. The capture of Santa Croce further increases the outflanking peril to Kesselring's 80,000-men and panzers assembled north of the Volturno River. Reuter’s correspondent reports that a major part of the assault on the escape gap is occurring on the Eighth Army front. German salients in the central sector ate steadily being reduced as the Allies fight forward. General Montgomery's men are encountering the roughest going and strong enemy resistance. SEVERE FIGHTING Fighting was particularly severe north-west of Colletorte, five miles south-south-west of Santa Croce, where the Germans made determined bids to keep the northern edge of their escape gap intact. The swift advance against Vinchiaturo has straightened the Allied line. As the Allied columns close in against the town, Allied fighters and fighter-bombers are smashing gun positions in the path of the land advance. In the western coastal sector, tremendous artillery duels are occurring across the Volturno. American self-propelled guns are laying down devastating barrages against the German front line strongpoints. As General Clark was massing forces south of the river, American patrols, ferrying across the Volturno, had many brushes with German outposts. A British United correspondent says violent artillery engagements across the Volturno apparently are a prelude to an Allied drive across the swollen river. The correspondent adds that along the Adriatic coast road the Germans are putting up a stonewall defence, trying to prevent an Allied breakthrough to Pescara, the capture of which would enable us to swing to Rome. A Reuter correspondent reports that the famous ‘‘Desert Rats” are again in action with the Eighth Army in Italy. They are threatening the German right flank from the west, while in the centre infantry are pushing forward and folding up German artillery rearguards. The Cairo radio stated that Germans who were attempting to cross the Volturno at Castel Volturno, in rubber boats, were driven back with heavy casualties. According to the Algiers radio, 4,000 Germans who attempted the crossing were wiped out to a man. A Reuter correspondent says that the Fifth Army movements are considerably hampered by thousands of civilians, carrying their belongings,'who have escaped from fighting areas and are roaming southward. The Cairo radio states that Naples Harbour is again in working order. It is alsb announced that large Allied reinforcements have landed at Salerno. HATE OF GERMANS MAINSPRING OF ITALIAN ACTION CHANCE OF “WORKING PASSAGE" TO PEACE (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. Many Italian politicians, soldiers and sailors have expressed a sincere desire to fight against a people they have iearnt to hate during months of arrogant occupation. Marshal Badoglio last week declared that it would be very hard to fight against the Germans, because they were good soldiers, but that it was much harder to be their allies. The Badoglio Government's declaration of war against Germany does not mean that Italy becomes an ally or one of the United Nations, says the Press Association's diplomatic correspondent. She remains a defeated country, with the status of a co-belligerent. The declaration is a logical step by the Government, which at the outset of the armistice negotiations, declared that it was prepared to fight with the Allies immediately their forces landed on Italian soil. Mr Churchill has already indicated that Italy, by “working her passage.” may achieve some amelioration of terms at the peace conference. The Badoglio Government's main purpose in declaring war is really to focus resistance against the Germans by the people, of whom a vast majority have welcomed the Anglo-American armies as liberators. Little can be expected from the Italian Army, at least at present. It has no stomach left for’ fighting. Many thousands of Italian soldiers, formerly part of the Axis Balkan garrison, have been disarmed by their former Allies. Germany's difficulty at present is to transport them to the Reich for slavery in Nazi war industries. Thousands arc wearily attempting to reach their homes in Italy. LOOKING TO CIVILIANS,

It is therefore mainly to civilians that the Badoglio Government will look to implement the war declaration. The people of Italy in the Allied occupied south so far have done little except to greet our soldiers with flowers and kisses. Now it is hoped that resistance will stiffen throughout the country.'and that the people will rally to the Allies. It is hoped that they will lose no opportunity for sabotage and also will refuse to work in war factories for the Germans and will do their utmost to hamper and destroy the German war machine in Italy. Marshal Badoglio, in a statement to the Press at his headquarters, said: ‘•The Government of which I am the head was constitutionally nominated by the King. It has a single objective to free the country from German oppression. It is obvious that this can only be done by a united military effort, in which we shall work in the closest possible manner with the British and American forces. For the full accomplishment of this, all those who love Italy above all else must join, according to

the best of their ability, in the work of redemption.” POLITICAL PLEDGE. Marshal Badoglio continued: “As soon as the war is ended and victory won, as most surely it can be, the present Government will consider its mission accomplished and will be thoroughly content with having freed the country of German occupation. Accordingly, the Government undertakes 1 here and now to give a formal assurance that at the end of the war the Italians will be perfectly free to choose the Government which is desired for the no less important tasks of peace reconstruction. This undertaking has already been given in a decree dissolving the Chamber of Fascism and its corporations, in which it 'was stated that elections would be held four months after the end of hostilities. What was said then is reaffirmed now. The present Government has clearly defined the tasks of leading the country until peace is won and with that its mandate ceases.”

The Associated Press points out that the statement was distributed to the Press through Allied headquarters and military channels, and presumably was thereby given the Allied blessing.