GAINS IN ITALY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 308, 23 September 1943, Page 7

GAINS IN ITALY

Eighth Army Takes Potenza NAZI WITHDRAWAL LONDON, September 22. Today’s news from the Italian front is all good. A communique from the Allied headquarters says that the Fifth Army has continued to regroup and to move forward,, capturing a number of places north and east of Salerno., The Eighth Army has occupied the important inland town and railway j unction of Potenza. A correspondent says that the Germans right flank north of Salerno is holding fairly firmly, but they are pulling out steadily on the left. He adds that it is quite possible that the heavy losses suffered by the enemy in the recent unsuccessful counter-attacks have hastened his decision to retreat.

An Allied observer who entered the town of Battipaglia, south-east of Salerno, behind the advance, reports that ruins were piled on ruins, and bulldozers were working to clear the streets, which were unrecognizable. Cripple Allied carriers were lying almost on top of German machinegun posts, and all along the streets were the remains of German trucks. Hany Gertnan bodies were still lying round, and here and there were temporary graves.

ALLIED PROGRESS Main Weight Reported Inland LONDON, September 21. While the Fifth Army’s push from the Salerno bridgehead is well under way, the only ofiicial news of the Eighth Army today is contained in an .Allied communique to the effect that its advance continues in face of light opposition. German sources, however, state that the Eighth Army is advancing against Foggia. Berlin radio’s commentator, Captain Sertorius, says that the objective of the Allied command is the conquest of the line from Naples to Foggia. His guess may be read in conjunction with a statement by General Eisenhower that the' Allied forces are getting into position to undertake seriously the major battle against the German forces in Italy. . . Vichy radio reported tonight that both sides in southern Italy are. regrouping their forces and moving up reinforcements. It added that the main Allied, troop concentrations are reported from the Potenza area. General Montgomery has a big , surprise ready for the Germans, and the Eighth Army may strike at any moment in a place where the Germans least expect, savs the United Press correspondent at the Allied headquarters. It may lie assumed that the blow will come on a fairly wide front. There is no confirmation at the headquarters of reports that our guns have started shelling Naples itself. , . , The position north and north-west or

Salerno is that our troops pushing through the Littari mountains on the Sorrento Peninsula have taken more strategic villages and beaten back a German counter-attack. The Germans appent to be moving northward. ‘North of Salerno the Germans are still putting up stiff resistance against any attempts by the Fifth Army to move toward Avcllino, though the main German forces are retreating on this front. Extensive Demolitions. The Fifth Army has made progress on all other parts of the Salerno_ bridgehead. It has captured Eboli, 15 miles from 'the coast, south-east of Salerno, and the German left flank has turned hack to positions east and north of the town. The Eighth Army’s advance continues in the face of slight opposition. _ A correspondent of the United 1 ress of America says the Germans tried to counter-attack yesterday, but were thrown back with heavy losses.. lhey are now being pushed back along the whole 'Salerno front, and are resorting to extensive demolitions, particularly of bridges, in the attempt to disengage themselves from the Fifth Army. The Salerno no-man's-land has been mopped up and consolidated, and what was originally a bridgehead has become the main point for the invasion of Italy. The Allies are now making a • twopronged air attack against the Germans. Fortresses, Marauders, and Mitchebs battered communications in a wide arc round Naples, while light and medium bombers of th? tactical air force plastered the Germans falling back with their supply columns from the Salerno region. The naval bombardment force had a rest after the impressive shoot of the previous day, when over 30 tons of shells were fired on targets, directed by a forward observation post, flits were scored on German headquarters buildings and jnotor transport.

TARGETS AT VENICE BOMBED LONDON, September 21. American aircraft based in the Middle East have attacked targets at Venice and elsewhere on the Italian Adriatic coast. Tile North west African tactical and strategic air forces have been hammering west-bound enemy transport in the Naples area. A correspondent at headquarters in North Africa says that about GO (rucks, laden with petrol and oil, travelling west of Potenza, were bombed and strafed, and when the fighter-bombers moved 1 away 30 big tank trucks were on fire and others damaged. Later, lighterbombers made other discoveries of motor transport, and 67 trucks were destroyed during the night and day, and as many damaged. Bombing activity was again concentrated close to the Salerno battlefront and the bombers attacked roads and railways within a short distance of the front. Again no enemy fighters attacked them. Flying Fortresses- hit the railway yards at Torre Annunziata, the track south of Pompeii, and three roads south of Sarno. Marauders successfully raided a holUeneck between two railway yards at Formia, stopping southbound traffic. Last, night Wellingtons bombed I lie road and railway, yards.at Benevento,,,