EIGHTH ARMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1943, Page 4

EIGHTH ARMY

AFTER VICTORIOUS SWEEP THROUGH FIVE COUNTRIES FIGHTING SLOW & SAVAGE BATTLES. IN HEART OF APPENINES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright,' (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 21. The Eighth Army, which has swept 2,500 miles through five countries since the Battle of El Alamein, is now fighting, in the heart of the Appemnes, as slow and savage batile as ever it has fought since it stormed the Alamein line a year ago next Saturday. With 355 days of success since then, it is still advancing, but its tardy progress at present is proof of the difficulties and problems of this battle for heights. The Eighth Army is now slogging towards a new obstacle a mile distant, namely the fast and swollen Biferno River, on which German rearguards are well established. The Eighth Army yesterday advanced eight miles and captured the villages of Oratino and Busso, west of Campobasso standing on heights dominating Baranello, on the VinchiaturoIsernia Road. The British troops reached Oratino, which is 3,000 feet up, by a twisting, single-track road. They stormed Busso at the end of a still rougher, serpent-like cart track. The enemy, west of these villages is dug in among the heights around Baranello, which is the strategic centre of the entire German defences on the northern slope of the Appenines. POWERFUL BLOWS STRUCK BY ALLIED AIRCRAFT. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE AT NISH, (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, October 21. An Algier’s communique states: “Patrolling continues in the Eighth Army sector in Italy and further advances have been made on the Fifth Army front. In the coastal area north of the Volturno, canals and drainage ditches have made movements difficult. “The North-West African Air Forces were out in strength yesterday, attacking airfields, communications and gun positions. “Marshalling yards at Nish, in Yugoslavia, an important junction 80 miles north-west of Sofia, were attacked for the first time by medium bombers, escorted by Lightnings, causing explosions and severe damage. “Heavy bombers attacked airfields at Casale and Marcigliana, north of Rome. Many hits were seen on hangars, sheds and landing fields. Other heavy bombers destroyed railway bridges from Grosse to Orvito. Medium bombers attacked airfields at Casale, Marcigliama and Cerveteri, direct hits being scored on parked aircraft, hangars and dispersal areas. Fighters and fighterbombers were over the battlefront throughout the day, attacking gun positions and motor transport. A train and station were blown up north, of Ancona. On Tuesday night, light bombers attacked Cassino, the harbour at Gaeta and’various railway junctions. Night fighters attacked airfields at Subara and Cerveteri. “From all these operations three of our aircraft are missing.” Mitchells and Lightnings which attacked Nish flew 100 miles farther north in the Balkans than hitherto. Smoke from the plastered marshalling yards and locomotive sheds reached 5.000 feet.