FURTHER ADVANCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1943, Page 3

FURTHER ADVANCES

MADE BY ALLIED ARMIES IN ITALY AGAINST STRONG OPPOSITION. GERMANS TRYING TO* DIG IN ON WINTER LINE. LONDON, November 9. A further advance of nearly five miles has been made by Eighth Army units, against strong opposition, on the Adriatic sector of the Italian front and positions have been occupied on high ground overlooking the Sangro River. The enemy at the same time is being attacked further inland, and deeper in the mountains our troops have pushed on for three miles and captured another town in the Isernia area. On the western sector, Fifth Army troops are attacking on both sides of the main road to Rome. The Germans massed here for a counter-attack, but it was broken up by our artillery and mortar fire before it could be launched. Further inland, the Americans have improved their positions. On all fronts the Germans are digging in, and our troops are exposed to heavy shell fire. German prisoners state that their forces are preparing to stand on a winter line north of the River Garigliano on the west, and of the River Sangro on the east. STORM & DELUGE FAIL TO HALT FIFTH ARMY PROGRESS MADE IN APPALLING WEATHER (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.O RUGBY, November 9. The British forces with the Fifth Army, battling for high ground north of Reccomonfino, pushed on yesterday through a terrific thunderstorm, states a correspondent with the army. Torrential rain poured down the mountainsides, washing away hastily-constructed tracks and filling craters along the supply roads. The peaks were obscured by low clouds and our troops groped their way through a “London fog.” Heavy rain increased the flow in the Garigliano River and turned the marshy land nearer the sea into veritable swamps. Despite the appalling conditions, the progress made is considered most satisfactory. Patrolling across the river was continued during darkness and important information was obtained. The Germans are fighting fiercely along the whole of the high ground facing the Fifth Army, and as they have a belt of such country extending for something like 20 miles between the present line and Rome they have an abundant opportunity for carrying out a delaying battle. The Algiers radio states that the Allied advance has continued on all sectors and at some parts has reached a depth of five or six miles since yesterday. On the east coast, troops'>of the Eighth Army are approaching the Sangro River and a considerable part of the important road from Vasto to Castiglione is controlled by the Allies. THIRD OF ITALY NOW HELD BY ALLIES ACHIEVEMENTS OF EIGHTH ARMY (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, November 9. Allied Headquarters in North Africa report: “In the Eighth Army area, our troops are meeting enemy demolitions, but advances ' were made all along the army front. In the north we reached positions overlooking the River Sangro. Heavy rain hampered the Fifth Army’s operations. Our troops made limited advances and improved positions previously gained.” With their arrival on the Sangro, it is stated, the Allies now hold a third of Italy. Press messages report the capture of Torino, just south of the mouth of the Sangro, and Paglieta, overlooking the river five miles inland. These places are 100 miles east and 20 miles north of Rome.

In the upper reaches of the River Trigno, the Eighth Army has taken Torrebruno, San Giovanni and Trivento, 18 to 22 miles from the sea. In the centre, Pescolanciano, seven miles north-east of Isernia, and Ponelli, in the high ground five miles west of Isernia, have been taken. The Eighth Army has advanced about 20 miles in the last three days. Such progress in difficult country is regarded as a remarkable achievement, although it is overshadowed by the fact that at the moment the Germans are being routed on a large scale in Russia. The Eighth Army’s previous record of advances in the freak conditions of the desert also makes its present progress seem slower than would otherwise be the case. AIR OPERATIONS SUCCESSFUL DAY & NIGHT ATTACKS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.52 a.m.) i RUGBY, November 9. “A ball-bearing factory at Turin was attacked yesterday by heavy bombers of the North-West African Air Force, escorted by longe-range fighters,” stated a North African communique. “Severe damage was caused. “Gun positions on the Eighth Army front were attacked by light bombers. An enemy train and gun positions in the same area were attacked by fighters and fighter-bombers. “The harbour of Durazzo, in Albania, was attackedd on Sunday night by light bombers. A large explosion was observed as a result of a direct hit in the warehouse area.

“Last night a railway bridge south of Grosseto (90 miles north-west of Rome) was attacked by night bombers. “In these operations one enemy aircraft was destroyed. None of ours is missing.”