ALLIED PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1943, Page 3

ALLIED PROGRESS

TOWN TAKEN AT BAYONET POINT . ADVANCE IN SEVERAL AREAS. CLAIMS BY BERLIN RADIO. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 26. The latest reports say the Eighth Army, pushing towards Isernia, captured Spineta at the bayonet point, after a savage hillside fight. There is only a twelve-mile stretch of metalled road between Venafro and Isernia. General Clark’s right is. threatening Venafro, and General Montgomery’s left is approaching Isernia. The Fifth Army’s right wing, driving along the Upper Volturno Valley, is now twelve miles from Venafro, while in the western coastal area the Germans are being compelled to give up the minestrewn flat grounds north of the British held canal through the Capua Plain. They are falling back to the towering Massico Ridge. The Algiers radio stated that the Americans are now six miles beyond Sparanise and jabbing against the heights dominating the main road to Rome. Claiming that the Germans have improved their defence line in Italy, the Berlin radio stated: “The Germans in the past few days have been able to carry out a shortening of front in several sectors without disturbance from the Allies. A unified and deeply escheloned system of defence from coast to coast has been created, based on hilly and mountainous ground and offering many tactical possibilities. Even the Allies realise that the main fighting has not begun yet. The Germans have husbanded their strength to such an extent that this alone will secure for them the initiative immediately the right moment comes and the best battleground is reached?

STAND BY POPE

REFUSAL TO HAND OVER ANTI-FASCISTS.-LONDON, October 26. The Bari radio says that the. Pope has refused a German demand to hand over prominent anti-Fascists within the Vatican.