DRAMATIC EVENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1943, Page 4

DRAMATIC EVENTS

ON THE ITALIAN FRONT ATTACKS ON GERMAN CENTRE & BOTH FLANKS. DESPERATE REARGUARD ACTION IN WEST. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, November 4. Isernia, which was captured by the Eighth Army early this morning, stands on the main east-west highway linking Foggia with Rome. Although such a vital communication centre, it is only a small place of 7,500 inhabitants. Dating from Roman times, it has been many times completely destroyed, sometimes by war, sometimes by earthquake. The Eighth Army advanced ten miles in 36 hours to capture Isernia at 3 a.m. Street fighting preceded its fall. A commentator at Allied Headquarters said: “The enemy has now yielded the central hinge of his defensive line.” News of dramatic events comes also from both the Italian coasts. The Germans in the western coastal sector are now fighting a desperate rearguard action across the Gariglione Plain, while the Eighth Army early today struck from its Trigno River bridgeheads at the enemy defence line near the Adriatic coast. The Berlin radio talked of a new landing behind the German line. RELATIVE^ LOSSES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN CAMPAIGNS APPROXIMATELY SIX TO ONE AGAINST ENEMY (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) RUGBY, November 4. Casualties in the Mediterranean since the Allied landings in North Africa have been approximately six to one in -the Allies’ favour, the American Secretary for War (Mr Stimson) announced. American losses to October 29 were 31,126, of which 5,539 were killed; 17,621 wounded and 7,966 missing, probably taken prisoner. British losses were higher and the French considerably lower. The losses were approximately 40,000 killed, 90,000 wounded and 468,055 prisoners.