IMPORTANT HEIGHTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1943, Page 3

IMPORTANT HEIGHTS

TAKEN BY FIFTH ARMY HARD FIGHTING CONTINUES ON EITHER SIDE OF INLAND ROAD TO ROME LONDON, November 11. The heaviest fighting in Italy is in progress on either side of the main inland road from Naples to Rome. The Fifth Army has beaten off German counter-attacks and struck forward to capture important heights, one of them within two miles of the fortified town of Mignano. A correspondent says it looks as though it will not be long before this town is in Allied hands. On the central sector Fifth and Eighth Army troops are thrusting into the network of roads by way of which the German western and eastern forces maintain contact. Small towns have been captured in the area ten miles beyond Isernia. SERIES OF CAPTURES .... .. MADE BY BOTH ALLIED ARMIES WEATHER REPORTED VERY BAD (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, November 11. “Along the Fifth Army front, enemy resistance is stiff,” says a North Africa communique, “and many small counterattacks were launched against our troops. All were repulsed and further important heights were captured. Very bad weather conditions prevail on the Eighth Army front. Snow is falling in the high mountain areas. Forward elements have reached the River Sangro. Further south small advances were made.” A war correspondent states: “It is specially announced from Allied headquarters that the Eighth Army has captured Rdccassicura, Rionero and Cassalanguida. The Fifth Army has captured Colli and Mondazzo. Two heights captured by the Fifth Army are northwest and south?west of Mignano.” Rionero, which is mentioned in the North African communique, is five miles from Casteldisangro, and 2| miles north-west of Forti. Casslanguida is midway between the Trigno and Sangro rivers, on the lateral road from the coast through Salbordino and Scerni, which are alreadj r in Allied hands. Roccassicura is on the left flank of the Eighth Army, five miles west of Carovilli, the capture of which was announced yesterday. NAVAL BLOW ENEMY MUNITIONS VESSEL SUNK NEAR THE ALBANIAN PORT OF VALONA (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, November 11. A naval communique states: “British destroyers operating south of Valona on Tuesday night engaged a Siebel ferry vessel laden with petrol and ammunition, which was set on fire and sunk. Of three escorting launches only one escaped.” Valona, Albania’s second port, is 60 miles from the heel of Italy, across the Strait of Otranto. ITALIAN GENERAL REMOVAL FROM POST REQUESTED. LONDON, November 10. It was mentioned in the House of Commons that the Italian Government had been asked to relieve General Roatta from his post. The case of General Ambrosio was still under consideration. In reply to a question as to whether these generals would be sent to Yugoslavia for trial, it was stated that, that was a matter for the United Nations Commission. DEEP SALIENT DRIVEN INTO GERMAN CENTRAL FRONT. CONVERGING ALLIED THRUSTS. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 11. The Eighth Army has pushed forward elements across the Sangro River in one sector and is also driving, through snow, down the Apennine defiles along the main mid-ltaly road north of Isernia, say dispatches from the front. General Montgomery’s left wing, after a five-mile advance, has driven a deep salient into the central front. The powerful thrust in the Apennines is reported to be cleaving the German front apart. The Allied spearheads are now less than 30 miles from the Rome-Pescara motor highway, which is the lateral lifeline behind the German lines. The main mid-ltaly road on which the Eighth Army drive is pivoting bypasses Rome. Fifth Army units, advancing to converge with the Eighth Army on the mid-ltaly road, are operating on mountain paths. They are clearing the Germans from heights covering the inland route to Rome. The Fifth Army, as the Eighth Army advanced to capture Rionera, 2| miles north-west of Fornelli, made a simultaneous advance beyond Venafro, occupying Colli, on a secondary hill road two miles northwest of Fornelli. Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters says this Fifth Army Drive, like that which the Eighth Army is making, threatens the whole German position. German opposition is still strong, but, probably as a result of earlier losses, the scale of enemy coun-ter-attacks is appreciably smaller. The Algiers radio says the Fifth Army, advancing along the road to Rome between Mignano and Cassino through the most I 'formidable fortifications and demolitions yet encountered, has encircled the fortified town of Cassino, the keypoint of the German line.

Cassino, which is 12 miles west of Venafro, is an important road junction on the Naples-Rome Highway. The Algiers radio stated that the Fifth Army stormed and captured two mountains north-west and south-west of Mignano.

It is reported from Algiers that the Germans scuttled the cruiser Quanto,

probably blocking Leghorn Harbour. A merchantman apparently has been scuttled at the outer harbour entrance. An Allied air raid against Bolzano is believed to have blocked the Brenner bottleneck, '