ADVANCES MADE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1943, Page 4

ADVANCES MADE

BY BOTH ALLIED ARMIES ENEMY IN SOME DANGER OF ENCIRCLEMENT. ANTICIPATING MAJOR ATTACK. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, October 20. Defeated on the Volturno line, the Germans are now falling back to a line running from Mondragone, on the west coast, ten miles north of the Voiturno Estuary, to Venafro, south-west of Isernia, states a Reuter correspondent. The line takes advantage of the 2,300 feet Massico Ridge, which runs inland to Venafro, where it overlooks the upper reaches of the Volturno. The Germans are covering their retreat'with desultory artillery and mortar fire, but are unable to shake off the vanguard of the Fifth Army. Great pillars of smoke from burning villages pinpoint the German’s path. Peaceful villagers have been shot, cattle destroyed, rail tracks torn up and rainsoaked haystacks used as smokescreens. The whole centre of the Allied line moved forward between five and seven miles yestrday. The Algiers radio says the Fifth Army is continuing to drive the Germans back towards the Appenines and is also progressing on the heights north of the Volturno and Calore. The Eighth Army, which pierced the German defences west of Termoli, simultaneously threatens to encircle the Germans, whose only escape is through Isernia. General Montgomery holds the initiative in the stern fighting occurring on the Eighth Army front. ■ “The Times” Algiers correspondent says the capture of Petacciato, eight miles north of Termoli, followed on a heavy attack by infantry, tanks and artillery. The line thereby was carried forward about eight miles. General Eisenhower’s Headquarters has released the news that the British 78th Infantry Division is engaged on the Italian battlefront. This division fought with the Eighth Army in Sicily. Captain Sertorious, the Berlin radio commentator, says the presence of these troops indicates that a major Allied attack is imminent. ....The Algiers radio stated that the port of. Naples is now in good order. The vzater supply is working and telephone communications have been re-estab-lished.

"' A time-bomb which went off in a building in the centre of Naples twenty ' days after the fall of the city killed a number of Italians in the building.