STRATEGIC CENTRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1943, Page 3

STRATEGIC CENTRE

TAKEN BY EIGHTH ARMY IN APENNINES HARD FIGHTING IN MOUNTAINS. ENEMY AMMUNITION TRAIN BLOWN UP. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, October 22. The Eighth Army has captured Baranello, one of Kesselring’s strongpoints in the Apennines. It was the strategic centre of the entire German defences on the northern slope of the Apennines. On the Adriatic sector, the Germans are fighting hard 10 miles from Termoli. The capture of a village seven miles from Termoli enabled positions on higher ground to be consolidated. A terrific explosion shook the coun-try-side south of Ancona on Wednesday, when Kittybombers blew up an enemy ammunition traiq, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army. The blast was so great that one of our planes flying at a good height was blown to pieces. The larger part of a neighbouring village was shattered. VOLTURNO BATTLE AMERICAN AND BRITISH CASUALTIES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 21. The American Secretary of War, Mr Stimson, states a Washington message today, said that 879 Americans had been killed and 3047 wounded, and 2848 were missing from the Fifth Army since the start of the Volturno battle, and he warned that the casualties were only approximate. He said he understood that the casualties among British units were somewhat higher. . Mr Stimson said that the Fifth Army was making substantial progress in the march on Rome. Indications showed that German reinforcements' from the north of Italy had been brought into battle and, that additional German troops had arrived in Italy.