FIFTH ARMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1943, Page 4

FIFTH ARMY

UNHINGING GERMAN GATE TO ROME CAPTURE OF COMMANDING HEIGHTS AFTER DOGGEDLY PERSISTENT EFFORTS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 2. While the Eighth Army, on the Adriatic coast, is again moving up towards Vasto, and in the southern part of its front has gained some ground, the Fifth Army, in the words of one observer, is “unhinging the German gate to Rome.” Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters says British infantrymen of the Fifth Army, storming up the muddy northern side, of Mount Massico, seized the strongpoint village of Casanava. Other units have driven the Germans from some high ground overlooking the Appian Way and are threatening not only the Appian Way but the Garigliano Valley, north of the Massico Ridge. The Fifth Army has now captured all the heights controlling jthe valley. A sudden advance by the Fifth Army's righ ? t wing brought Venafro. within range of our guns, which are shelling the town tonight. Forcing the Germans from some of the highest points of the. great Matese massif and seizing most of the range, the Allies have extended their domination of two more valleys which the Germans intended to hold —firstly, the valley in which is the main Vinchia-turo-Isernia. road, north of the Matese Range; secondly, the Volturno Valley, south of the range. It has taken the Fifth Army since October 13 to battle along this mountain range and also to push six miles across the coastal plain, but the gains are df the utmost value to the Allies strategically. MASSICO RIDGE LIKELY TO BE CLEARED SOON. EIGHTH ARMY ALSO MAKING HEADWAY. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, November 2. Allied troops have reached a point where they can move forward and clear the enemy from the remainder of the Massico Ridge, says the British United Press Algiers correspondent. He adds that the Massico Ridge is officially described as of tremendous importance to the enemy. Eighth Army troops are now along the Trigno River on a 30-mile front stretching from the sea to Roccavivara, in the mountains, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army. Patrpls are still skirmishing along this stretch, but the British troops are firmly established farther inland, at Frosolone, near the headwaters of the Trigno. According to the Algiers radio, Eighth Eighth Army troops have advanced to within sight of Vasto, and the enemy rearguard on the Trigno line is now in a homeless position.

A high staff officer who served in Tunisia said the problems of the Eighth Army were as difficult as the worstencountered in Tunisia. The ground everywhere is boggy. Tanks and mechanised units are immobilised and soldiers in the mountain areas toil up with all weapons, munitions and food. An Associated Press correspondent with the Fifth Army says the Germans are laying mines and booby traps in vineyards and orchards in their retreat towards the Garigliano River. Traps are placed in such a position that they explode when the troops attempt to pick fruit. The Luftwaffe, on the north flank of the Fifth Army’s line, suddenly showed signs of life and made sneak raids against bottleneck traffic points.