DOUBLE PRESSURE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 6, 18 October 1943, Page 3

DOUBLE PRESSURE

SPEED OF ALLIED PINCERS. ALLIES’ INTERLOCKING MOVE MIGHTY EFFORT SUCCEEDS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 17. The speed of the Allied movements in Italy and the relentless pressure from the two jaws of the British and American pincers are keeping Kesselring’s forces moving back from the Volturno line, say dispatches from the front. The Germans have already been forced to abandon most of their positions and it is confidently expected that the disengaging movement must continue.

British troops landed from the sea north of the Volturno from the left jaw of the pincers. They are consolidating positions along the canal from north of the estuary and are striking inland, developing the threat to The German coastal flank. Americans form the right jaw, embracing the valuable heights north-east of Capua, dominating the flat land north of the city. Units of the sth Army, fighting for the crossing of the Titerno River, which is a tributary of the Volturno flowing in 30 miles upstream, are now a little over 20 miles from the Bth Army patrols that are thrusting out from Vinchiaturo.

The British United Press says that when the Allies are in position to exert fully unified pressure from these interlocking movements the fate of the Germans in the Volturno region Will be sealed.

Late despatches emphasise that the construction of bridges across the Volturno is continuing to speed masses of men and material concentrated on the south bank and pouring across the river as each new bridge becomes available. Correspondents says that General Mark Clark expected one week’s hard fighting for the crossing, which was gained in 4S hours —a mighty effort.