SLOW PROGRESS IN ITALY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24093, 1 November 1943, Page 5

SLOW PROGRESS IN ITALY

DIFFICULT COUNTRY FACING ALLIES

« VERY TOUGH MILITARY PROPOSITION ” (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright)

(Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 30. The coming weeks and months may present great dangers for the western Allies as well as great opportunities, according to forecasts by well-informed London observers. The Italian front is the only European theatre in which their troops are in action, but the invasion of Italy is only one part of their strategic plan. In allocating troops, equipment, and transport for the Italian front, Allied Headquarters must steer between the Scylla of too much and the Charybdis of too little. In less than two months the British and American forces, which had previously seized Sicily and the whole of North Africa from Egypt to Morocco, have captured about a third of the mainland of Italy and the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. That the initiative is still in their hands after a year of continuous advance is attributed to the highly successful military and political strategy pursued jointly by the two Allies in agreement with Russia. The Italian peninsula, however, is no open steppe or desert. Every winding road is mined, bridges are wrecked, and lines of advance are dominated by mountain ridges held by a tenacious enemy.

Along the coast the sth Army has been edging its way towards and round Mount Massico over swampy ground intersected by dykes. Towards Formia and the river Garigliano the coastal plain narrows until the mountains come down to the. sea. The way round is inland along a valley traversed by the ancient Via Latina, through Frosinone towards Rome.

Between the Allied forces and Rome lie 90 miles, crossed by tangles of mountains, rivers, and swamps. Since it is resolutely defended, this territory is regarded in London as a very tough military proposition. When the Allies have forced the enemy back to Isernia—and it may take some time to do so—their left wing will have roughly four parallel geographical features before it. These are the Pontine marshes, the Repirii mountains, the broad valley of the Via Latina, and the great Apennine range. What General Alexander called “slogging up Italy” therefore looks like being a protracted business.

ARMISTICE WITH ITALY

FULL TERMS SIGNED (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 30. “The full armistice terms with Italy, reported to contain 40 clauses, were signed to-day,” says the Rress Association’s diplomatic correspondent. r ‘They will be published as soon as practicable.

“The terms cover a wide field of political and economic ■ issues, which were visualised in Article 12 of the original short terms.” [The twelfth article of the original terms said: “Other conditions of a political, economic, and financial nature, with which Italy will be Bound to comply, will be transmitted at a later date.”]

GERMAN RESPECT OF VATICAN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY HOLY SEE (Rec. Ipi p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 30. The Vatican radio, quoting the newspaper, “Osservatore Romano,” said: “In ofder to end unfounded rUmours, especially abroad, regarding the conduct of German troops towards the Vatican City, the German Ambassador to the Holy See, on behalf of the Reich Government, has declared that Germany, according to her policy so far of respecting the officers and the integrity of the Roman Curia, as well as the Vatican City’s sovereign rights and integrity, is resolved to respect them in future. “The Holy See, in acknowledging that the German troops have respected the Roman Curia and the Vatican City, has taken note of this assurance.”

DECLARING ROME AN OPEN CITY

REPORT BY GERMAN ,AGENCY

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 30. “The police force of Rome will be increased, in view of the fact that Rome will be officially declared an open city,” says the Official German News Agency. ‘‘The Germans are systematically looting Rome, according to an eyewitness who escaped from the city five days ago,” says the Algiers correspondent of the Associated Press. ‘‘This informant said that warehouses and factories were being stripped of everything of value. Plans were under way to destroy the tramway system and move out trams and buses, as the Germans did in Naples. “The food situation in the capital was desperate.” The Official German News Agency says that 100,000 Italian workers will soon be recruited for work in Germany.

FIGHTING IN CHINA HEAVY AIR ATTACKS ON JAPANESE (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Oct. 30. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the Japanese when United States Mitchell bombers surprised and attacked the Fort Bayard barracks on the Kwangchowan peninsula, says Lieu-tenant-General Joseph Stilwell’s latest communique. Other Mitchells sank a medium freighter and destroyed a grounded Japanese aeroplane. Fighters attacked and left burning warehouses at Yocjow on the Hangkow-Canton railway and factories 30 miles to the northward at Kienli. Liberator bombers dropped four tons of bombs on Aangshih, a major Japanese base on the Burma Road. .Eight enemy-aero-planes bombed an Allied aerodrome in south-west China, causing minor damage.

A Chinese • communique announces the capture of Shitungchen in southern Anwhei. The Chinese are advancing northwards towards Siaofeng^ “Chinese forces have launched an offensive behind the enemy lines on the Yunnan border,’’ said an earlier Chungking communique. “Heavy casualties were inflicted on the Japanese and several were taken prisoner. In western Chekiang the Chinese are advancing northwards and in Anhwei the Chinese broke into one town, but withdrew after inflicting casualties on the enemy.” Lieutenant-General Stilwell yesterday reported that American heavy bombers had successfully attacked Lungling, on the Burma Road. Eight Zeros intercepted and three were shot down. Later an additional eight Zeros attacked. Five were shot down and two others were probably destroyed. "The Japanese grip on East China is weakening. They are evacuating Kwang-teh. an important highway town, 85 miles south-east of Nanking,” said a Chinese Army spokesman, Major-General Tsieng. He said the situation on the Salween front was unchanged. “The Chinese recaptured Siao-feng. 35 miles north-west of Hangchow, killed more than 1200 Japanese, and captured a large quantity of supplies,” says to-day’s Chinese communique. “The Japanese, in addition to losing Kwang-teh. are evacuating villages near Hsuan-sheng which, with Siaofeng, they occupied during their recent offensive.”