IMPORTANT GAINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1943, Page 4

IMPORTANT GAINS

MADE BY FIFTH ARMY INCLUDING KEY TOWN ON HIGH SLOPE TROOPS FIGHTING IN QUAGMIRE (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, October 18. The Fifth Army has smashed fierce counter-attacks, and, battling over ground lashed by heavy rain into a sticky quagmire, has captured three vital points north of the Volturno River, namely Morrone, Cancello and Ruviano, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters. Morrone and Cancello are particularly important gains, the correspondent adds. Morrone is a key town. 1,000 feet up a hillside. Every yard of high ground in this area is tactically very important. The Germans are fighting their hardest to hold all hill positions. The Cairo radio says the German retreat at some points on the Volturno front has become so rapid that Allied troops have lost contact. The Americans have occupied all dominating heights and driven north-east of Capua. Fifth Army troops east of Capua have driven the Germans back nearly four miles.

Cancello is six miles inland, on the north side of the Volturno; Morrone is three miles north of the river and 20 miles inland and Ruviano is four miles north-west of the junction of the Volturno and Calore rivers. Morrone was taken only after three fierce coun-ter-attacks had been beaten off.

The Eighth Army, whose immediate objective is Isernia, 20 miles north-west of Vinchiaturo, is encountering increasing resistance.