GROUND GAINED IN ITALY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24112, 23 November 1943, Page 5

GROUND GAINED IN ITALY

FOUR CENTRES TAKEN BY BTH ARMY

LINE SHORTENED BY 21 MILES (NX Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. Nov. 21. The Bth Army has made important new gains south of the Sangro river after the biggest battle for a week in Italy. Four valuable centres have been captured in the last 48 hours, resulting in a shortening of the Bth Army's line by 21 miles. Reuter's correspondent in Algiers says that Bth Army troops now line the banks of the Sangro river for 12 miles from the Adriatic. Since the Bth Army resumed activity two days ago after a pause of one week because of bad weather, it has captured Archi, an important town on the south bank of the Sangro, 15 miles frohi the Adriatic coast, Agnone (30 miles from the Adriatic), the village of Castel san Vincenzo (nine miles northwest of Isernia), and the village of Rochetta, close by. The capture of Agnone means an eight miles' advance. The British have gained a total of 145 square miles of territory, also command of a 60mile stretch of the cross-Italy road from Vasto to Venafro. In taking Agnone, heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy. Eighth Army troops have now advanced beyond the town. By the occupation of the villages of Castel san Vincenzo and Rochetta, the Allies have increased their outflanking threat to Cassino. The sth Army, although still experiencing bad weather, has renewed its dogged, nibbling tactics in the mountains. Reuter’s correspondent says that the sth Army’s right flank north of Isernia has advanced three miles. There are no important changes on the rest of the front, where activity is confined to artillery exchanges. Bad flying weather has stopped heavy bombing in the last two days. ‘‘More heavy rain fell on the Bth Army front, but successful patrols were carried out and our positions were improved,” said yesterday’s Allied communique. “The village of Archi, two miles east of the river Sangro, and high ground near it were seized by our troops. Patrolling continued on the sth Army front where the weather conditions are again bad.” Unfavourable weather over targets in Italy caused the cancellation of nearly all air operations on Saturday. Fighters flying over the battle area encountered no enemy aircraft. No bombing missions were flown. One aircraft is missing in the western coastal area. .Anti-aircraft gunners shot down six aircraft which came low over the mountains and attacked troops on the roads.

• Reuter’s correspondent with the sth Army says that military experts in Italy are speculating on the possibility of Rome being a Christmas present for the United Nations, but much depends on the weather. If there is another spell of fine weather there is no doubt that the war will emerge from its present patrol and artillery activity into fullblooded Allied pressure, with the Allied troops determined to avenge their recent slight reverses in the mountainous sector of the sth Army front.

WAR AGAINST U-BOATS

150 SUNK IN SIX MONTHS

ALLIED SUCCESS REPORTED •

(Rec. 12.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Nov. 21. Between May 1 and October 31, the Allies sank 150 U-boats, said RearAdmiral Low, Assistant Chief of Naval Anti-Submarine Operations, in a broadcast. . The Allied shipping losses in the Atlantic during the same period remained less than one half of 1 per cent. , , “Germany still has hundreds of submarines, but the damage they have inflicted on shipping does not justify their existence,” said Rear-Admiral Low- „ . , The United States Navy was taking counter measures against the German acoustic torpedo.

WAR PRODUCTION IN U.S. CHANGES IN PRIORITIES WASHINGTON, Nov. 21. The United States munitions output in October showed the highest monthly increase since April, says a report issued by Mr Donald Nelson, chairman of the War Production Board. Merchant shipping deliveries were 1,660,000 deadweight tons, bringing the 1943 total to 15,332,000 tons. Aeroplane production showed a 10 per cent, increase over the September figure, reaching a new record of 8362 aeroplanes, against in September. Ninety-eight Liberty ships were finished, eight fewer than in September, but five above schedule. Tanker production jumped to 35, 13 more than in September. Ammunition production continued to rise and was up 11 per cent. According to plan, combat vehicles dropped off, showing a decrease of 11 per cent, from September, with tanks down most. In contrast with recent slow months, however, automotive vehicles and tractor programmes showed good increases.

CALLING GERMANS TO SURRENDER

SUGGESTED INTENTION OF ALLIED LEADERS

(Rec. 7 p.m.)' LONDON. Nov. 21. “A dramatic ‘surrender or take the consequences’ call to the German people over the heads of their rulers may be one result of the projected meeting among Mr Churchill, Mr Roosevelt, and Mr Stalin,” says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Sunday Express.” He adds: “It is believed that in the view of the three leaders the political and economic situation inside Germany has now reached a point at which such a call might produce most startling results. “Special means will be used to ensure that the Allied leaders’ words actually reach the German in the street. Such means exist, but must naturally be kept secret. The object of the warning will be to give the Germans their last chance to overthrow the Nazi Government and surrender unconditionally to the Allies.

“The Germans are likely to be told that refusal will only prolong the war and add to German losses and sufferings. without the slightest chance of altering the war’s final phase, and with the certainty that refusal will be counted against the whole German nation in the final settlement.”

JUGOSLAV PARTISANS IN THE BANAT LONDON. Nov. 21. “Jugoslav forces are operating in the Banat, on Hungarian territory, where partisan detachments have carried out a number of successful enterprises in the last few days and disarmed several of the smaller garrisons.” says a communique from the Jugoslav People's Army of Liberation. The Banat is former Rumanian territory, part of which was “ceded” to Hungary, together with Transylvania, in 1938. In Jugoslavia itself, partisans continue to harass enemy communications and garrisons and they have repelled German attacks.