THE FIFTH ARMY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 8, 20 October 1943, Page 3

THE FIFTH ARMY

IN DOMINATING HEIGHTS. ADVANCE IN VOLTURNO VALLEY RESISTANCE TO EIGHTH ARMY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 19. According to the Algiers Radio the sth Army advanced 16 miles, into the heights dominating Volturno Valley. The Algiers correspondent of the British United Press says that while the left flank of the sth Army freed a long stretch of the Volturno River, from the mouth to Capua, and is pressing to the line of the canal three miles further north, the right flank is pushing ahead on the eastern side of Capua, where the Volturno takes a sudden right-angle bend. In reference to the Bth Army front Reuter’s reports constant attacks by numbers of enemy tanks. It says that strong resistance is being encountered on the rough, high ground southwest of Campobasso. The Berlin radio claims that strong Allied forces were repulsed in the central mountain regions near Baranello, which is six miles west-south-west of Campobasso. It claims that at least four British regiments and one Canadian regiment were wiped out and that other troops were badly mauled. Allied Headquarters in North Africa states: “Eighth Army patrols continue to be active. Montefalcone has been captured and an enemy counterattack in the central sector lias been repulsed. On the sth Army front the progress is satisfactory. Gioia and Liberi have been captured and our troops continue to push northward from Volturno, from which the enemy has been cleared.

“Medium bombers and fighterbombers attacked the marshalling yards and railway bridge at Skoplje (in Yugoslavia). Fighters attacked Catigliona and Cassino.

“Composite units attacked enemy fortifications an Anchise and Bojano and communications at other points. Light bombers attacked transport on the east coast road on Sunday night. One of our aircraft is missing.”—-Bri-tish Official Wireless.