ALLIED AIRCRAFT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 November 1943, Page 3

ALLIED AIRCRAFT

BUSY IN MEDITERRANEAN AREAS BETTER WEATHER IN ITALY. BUT FLOODS STILL IMPEDING OPERATIONS. LONDON, November 19. Air activity is the keynote of today’s news from the Mediterranean. The German airfield at Eleusis, near Athens, was hammered by Flying Fortresses, for the fourth time this week. Unescorted Mitchel] bombers attacked Larissa, midway between Athens and Salonika. Railway .junctions north and north-west of Rome were also bombed, as well as targets in Yugoslavia. In their attack on Eleusis, which is one of the principal German air bases for operations in the Aegean Sea, fighters escorting the Flying Fortresses drove off about half a dozen enemy fighters. On the Italian battlefront the weather has improved, but floods are still holding things up. In the area north of Atessa the Eighth Army has captured some further observation points. The Germans shelled Allied positions, particularly on the Fifth Army centre and left flank. ENEMY DIVISIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATRE. SOME WEARY AND BELOW STRENGTH. (By Telegraph—(Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 18. About 50 German divisions apart from Bulgarian and Croat forces are now tied down in the Mediterranean theatre, says Reuter’s correspondent at General Alexander’s headquarters. Of these 50 divisions, 10 are on the Italian front. Some of these are known to be battle-weary and below strength. Three second-rate divisions recently arrived on the Italian front—the 94th Division on the Fifth Army front, the 65th Infantry Division on the Eighth Army front, and the 305th Infantry Divisions in the centre. The 94th includes large numbers of young inexperienced soldiers. The 65th has only two regiments instead of the usual three. Prisoners from this force say they are equipped with obsolete weapons such as 37mm. anti-tank guns and undersized mortars. These three divisions depend largely on horse and mule transport, but this is no great disadvantage in the hilly, muddy country where they are now in action. The men were probably withdrawn from a reserve pool in France, which was used as a convalescent ground for formations withdrawn from prolonged battle. However, the German divisions in Italy have experienced corps officers and a kernel veteran troops, who inspire others to fight stubbornly as they are doing now. GERMAN PLANS , INDICATED IN TROOP DISPOSITIONS. RELIANCE ON DELAYING TACTICS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, November 19. That the Germans are relying on the weather and delaying tactics to hold up the Allied drive in Italy would appear to be evident from the latest reports of the disposition of their troops in front of the Allied armies. Although the Eighth Army, says a correspondent at General Alexander’s headquarters, is now on a line north of Rome on the eastern side of the Apennines chain. The enemy is holding the bulk of his troops in front of the Fifth Army on the western flank. The Eighth Army is now less than 25 miles from Pescara, which is atxthe northern end of the main lateral road to Rome and with only the Sangro defensive line between it and the road. The road' from Pescara to Rome winds between of the highest peaks of the Apennines, Nvith narrow passes, often snowbound. The Germans would thus appear to think that if we burst through the Sangro defences and reach Pescara, they will be able to hold the passes with small forces. The enemy has altogether ten divisions in front of the two armies and of that number three are recent additions. All three depend largely on horses and mules for transport and one, the 65th Division, which presumably is holding the Sangro defence line, is also poorly equipped.