PUNCHING FORWARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 November 1943, Page 4

PUNCHING FORWARD

IN ADRIATIC COASTAL AREA EIGHTH ARMY GIVES GERMANS NO RESPITE. IMPORTANT ROAD JUNCTION GAINED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.39 a.m.) RUGBY, November 5. Punching forward again today before the enemy had fully recovered from the shock of Wednesday, General Montgomery's forces captured an important road junction . in the coast sector, just south of the pert of Vasto,” states a correspondent with the Eighth Army. “The road junction,” he adds, “is where a lateral road from Isernia joins the main coast road, about ten miles north of the bridgehead across the River Trigno, from which the Eighth Army attack was launched yesterday morning. The Germans tried to hold off our attack on the road junction, but after we had captured two hills overlooking the junction, our infantry and tanks raced down the slopes, wiping out German machine-gun posts and thus gaining possession of the cross-road. The Germans must have used all available guns in this endeavour to hold our troops back. They found our guns, however,'more than a match for theirs in heavy exchanges of shells by the hundred, fired across the valley through which the main road runs, as our infantry went into the attack, and the slopes of both hills were pitted with shell holes. FURTHER PROGRESS ALLIED AND ENEMY REPORTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, November 5. The Germans, under pressure from the Fifth Army, are giving up their positions in the Gulf of Gaeta, says the Algiers radio. The Vichy radio says General Montgomery ,is continuing to attack northeast of the Trigno. The Germans on the slopes of the Appenines effected a disengaging movement, thereby permitting General Montgomery to reach Isernia. Hard fighting continues around the village of San Salvo. Official advices state that the Allies have reached the vicinity of the Garigliano River, near the west coast, and are crossing the upper reaches of the Volturno.