PROGRESS IN ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1943, Page 4

PROGRESS IN ITALY

GAINS MADE BY EIGHTH ARMY IN SPITE OF FIERCE OPPOSITION SERIES OF TOWNS TAKEN. PENETRATION OF ENEMY COMMUNICATIONS. (By Telegraph-Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, November 7. Despite fierce opposition, including repeated strong tank attacks, the Eighth Army has advanced three to five miles and captured seven more towns. The farthest point of advance is south-west of Vasto, where Eighth Army spearheads have seized Montedorision, within one mile of the Sinella ’ River, running to the Adriatic six i miles north of Vasto. The six other captured towns are Cupello, Furci, ' Palmoli, Tufillo. Colinza and Badnoli, possession of which gives the Eighth Army complete control as far as Furci, which is ten miles west of Vasto, on the lateral highway from Vasto to Isernia. Cupello, which is about four miles south-west of Vasto, was believed to be the site of the German Headquarters for the Adriatic. BATTLE FOR CUPELLO. A correspondent with the Eighth Army says the Germans had evidently decided to fight for Cupello, in order to hold the central section of lateral roads for the movement of their troops which have been holding the line in Ihc mountains, in the central sector of the Eighth Army front. The enemy had a number of self-propelled guns in the town itself, and when our infantry, supported by tanks, moved down the road on Saturday morning towards the town, they were met with heavy shellfire and mortar bombs. The Germans had switched in their parachutists to hold the town. Fierce fighting developed and went on for some hours, until another of our infantry columns, under cover of our guns, attacked across the hills from San Salvo and succeeded hi infiltrating into the town, where fighting continued in the streets between our infantry and the enemy parachutists until our tanks were able to get into the town. The capture of the eastern and lateral road is already showing its effects in the central sector, where the enemy is gradually pulling back further into the hills towards two roads.that run through the mountains to the next,-lateral road. It would appear that the enemy will fight his next delaying action at the River Sinello. before making a real effort to hold us at the Sangro River, which it is generally expected he will make his main defensive line, in order to protect the main lateral road from Pescara to Rome. TEN MILE ADVANCE DURING LAST THREE DAYS. COUNTER-ATTACKS THROWN BACK. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, November 7. • During the last three days, good I progress has been made on the Eighth Army front, where we have thrown back the enemy more than ‘ ten miles, despite serious counterattacks supported by armoured forces,” says a correspondent at Allied Headquarters in North Africa. “Through this push forward,” he adds, “we have complete control over the road running south-west from Vasto to Castelglioni and over the River Trigno, for 19 miles from the sea to a bend of the river inland. Heavy fighting is still going on in the American sector, northward of Venafro and around Mignano, still held by the enemy, but where we occupy nearby high ground. In the entire sector, despite strong opposition and evident orders given to the Germans to hold on as long as possible, the Americans are improving their positions steadily, despite the difficult terrain. At the western end of the battlefield the Germans have thrown in another infantry division, making nine divisions fighting on this line. Allied fighters and fighter-bombers roamed over German-held Italy and the Dalmatian coast on Saturday, when they attacked 40 enemy tanks, 250 motor vehicles and locomotives. At the same time, Flying Fortresses and Lightnings struck at railways and bridges northward of the battle area. Two hundred vehicles parked at Metkovic, on ffie Dalmatian coast, were strafed by Warhawks, 40 being destroyed and as many damaged. Fighters encountered 30 enemy aircraft over the battlefront and destroyed four of them without loss. ' MOUNTAIN FIGHTING FIFTH ARMY ATTACKING. (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 7. The Germans put in all they had in an effort to check the Eighth Army’s advance. The bitterest fighting on the Fifth Army front is going on in the mountains north of Venafro and on the heights dominating Mignano. The Fifth Army, in the latter area, captured Galluccio, on the northern slope of Mount San Croco. Farther westward, the Fifth Army advanced troops are i probing German defences across the 1 Gargiliano River. They cross the river, under cover of night, in collapsible ' boats, and bring back valuable infor- 1 mation about German dispositions. j These advanced units line the south bank of the river, from the estuary to the village of Banocella, 81 miles in- < land. i The Berlin radio admitted the evacu- I ation today of Carovilliagnono and 1 Forlidelsanio, east of the Isernia-Cavel-disangro highway, but claimed the capture, after heavy fighting, of the village ( of Santa Maria Olievto, in the Venafro 1 area. The radio, describing the battle : in this area, claimed that the Germans < occupied strategically important < heights. |