DOGGED FIGHT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 1, 12 October 1943, Page 3

DOGGED FIGHT

ALLIES IN ITALY TWO OPPONENTS MET. GERMANS AND THE WEATHER. “LIKE FLANDERS MUD.” (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 11. Appalling weather is affecting not only the sth and Bth Armies, but also the vast movement of supplies behind the lines, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters. The whole military effort is developing into a dogged fight not only against ever-stiffening resistance , but also against worsening campaign conditions. The British United Press correspondent at Algiers says that this is the problem facing the sth Army. The Volturno River varies from 600 to 1000 feet in width, and is flooding rapidly. Bridges have gone and pontoons must be erected under German fire from the north bank. The north bank itself is slippery and treacherous. Our guns, which had to be manhandled into positions in mud like that of Flanders in the last war, are now hammering the German emplacements on the north bank. The crossing is a problem which needs tough genius to solve. The Allied troops who captured Pontelandolfo are only 18 miles south of the next big road communications centre of Vinchia, tura, which is on the main FoggiaRome motor road.

According to the German News Agency the Allied reconnaissance troops have been engaged at Santa Croce, about eight miles north-east of Pontelandolfo.

Along the Bth Army front from the Adriatic to the mountain backbone General Sir Bernard Montgomery’s troops have advanced between two and three miles in the last 24 hours. Bad -weather is temporarily bogging transport. Each advance means arduous foot-slogging through mud brought down by hill streams during the fierce rainstorms.