TORRENT OF BOMBS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1943, Page 4

TORRENT OF BOMBS

INTENSE AIR' ONSLAUGHT OPENING THE ROAD TO ROME ENEMY COMMUNICATIONS BREACHED AND CAPITAL CITY BLOCKADED (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, October 22. The most intense air onslaught since the Salerno landing has carried the attack to the Germans, who are attempting to consolidate a new Rome defence line north of the lower reaches of the Volturno River, from Mondragone, on the

seashore, to Venafro, Reuter’s Algiers correspondent reports. Air Marshal Tedder’s air fleets, with deadly persistence, are now isolating Rome from the north and blockading the city, which is a bottleneck of communications in Western Italy. The correspondent points to the significance of the aerial blockade in the present situation, in which the opposing armies are sparring for positions. Correspondents declare that the Germans, under a devastating rain of bombs, are facing an impossible task of repairing the shattered chain of road and rail bridges and highways on which Rome’s entire supply system depends. Allied planes are sweeping the skies almost unchallenged. The fury of their attack at present is overshadowing the land operations. There was a spectacular air action yesterday when Warhawks intercepted six stukas about to attack Yugoslav partisans and shot down five stukas in as many minutes. They then finished off the leader as he tried to escape in clouds.