FIFTH ARMY THRUST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1943, Page 4

FIFTH ARMY THRUST

INTO ITALIAN MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS DOMINATING VOLTURNO VALLEY. REPORTED BY ALGIERS RADIO. (Rv Teleeraph—Press Association —copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, October 19. According to the Algiers radio, Fifth Army forces have advanced 16 miles into the heights dominating the Volturno Valley. The British United Press Algiers correspondent says that while the left flank cf the Fifth Army is freed along the stretch of the Volturno River from the meuth to Capua, and pressing on to the line of the canal three miles further north, the right flank of the Fifth Army is pushing ahead on the eastern side of Capua, where the Volturno takes a sudden right-angled bend. With reference to the Eighth Army front, Reuter reports constant attacks by numbers of enemy tanks, and says strong resistance is being encountered on rough and high ground south-west of Campobasso. The Berlin radio claims that strong Allied forces have been repulsed in the central mountain regions, near Baranello, which is six miles west-south-west of Campobasso. The enemy radio claims that at least four British regiments and one Canadian regiment were wiped out. and that other troops were badly mauled. “OVER & WON” BATTLE OF THE VOLTURNO. GERMAN FLANKS ROLLED UP. (Received This Day. 11,45 a.m.) LONDON, October 19. The Fifth and Eighth armies have smashed and rolled up both German flanks in Italy, says the Algiers radio. The Germans are holding only their positions in the mountains of the central sector to some extent. Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters describes the Battle cf the Volturno as 1 “over and won,” and adds that the synchronised assaults of the Fifth and Eighth armies have thrown the whole Allied line a step forward. The Columbia Broadcasting System’s correspondent says the Volturno phase of the fighting'is over, and a battle is beginning for the Garigliano River front. The Fifth Army’s eastern flank has made considerable progress to high ground dominating this front. The Allies captured 23 towns and villages in their general advance yesterday. Included in the Fifth Army captures, in one rugged sector north-east of Capua, were Ponte Latone, Alvignano, Liberi, Gioia and Faicchio. These were taken by the Americans. The British, lower down the river, captured Brezza. The Eighth Army advanced three to four miles, against formidable opposition, and captured San Stefano and Ripabottini, south-west of Morrone, where an enemy pocket of resistance was wiped out, and also Monticilfone. The German news agency tonight admitted that the Fifth Army is fighting ten miles north of the Volturno. “MATTER OF DAVS” GERMAN EVACUATION OF ROME. ACCORDING TO STOCKHOLM PAPER. (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, October 19. The German evacuation of Rome is only a matter of days, says the Stockholm newspaper, “Svenska Dagbladet.” German officials are pouring from the city northwards, and only skeleton military forces remain.