WEARING DOWN NAZIS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 2, 28 September 1943, Page 5

WEARING DOWN NAZIS

Allied Pressure North Of Salerno EIGHTH ARMY’S SPEED (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, September 26. The Fifth and Eighth Armies are meeting with sharply contrasting conditions at each end of the Allied line across southern Italy. The Eighth Army, which has advanced 300 miles since the landing at Reggio, is now swarming on to the Foggia plain, less than 25 miles south of Foggia. The composite Anglo-American Fifth Army, at the other end of the Allied line, is advancing yard by yard across mountain defiles a few miles north of Salerno. The Fifth Army is moving forward on a 25-mile front and holds the bottle-neck on the road from Nocera to Naples and also key positions on the mountain road to Benevento. Units of the Fifth Army captured Cava di Terreni, four miles north-west of Salerno, and have advanced another mile and captured Senerchiavalva.

In the drive from Salerno the last 24 hours have been spent in securing roads to enable the advance to go on. The Germans’ resistance continues to be stubborn, but there is ample evidence that the Allied armies are wearing them out. Prisoners coming in exhausted tell of crippling losses their troops have suffered from shellfire. Many German companies in the last few days'lost over half their strength. Reuter’s correspondent with the Fifth Army says that the battles in which the Germans were pushed back from the mountain fastnesses verging on the Nocera road resemble that for Longstop Hill and other battles for the Tunisian heights. Transport in many sectors is possible only by pack mules. The well-concealed German artillery and mortar positions must be wiped out one by one. Allied bombers are ceaselessly hammering road junctions and enemy positions before the advancing Fifth Army. The Associated Press of Great Britain says that Americans of the Fifth Army have advanced 30 miles in six days. The advance was considerable inland, but the exact line is not revealed, for security reasons.

Spinnazola Captured. Reports from Axis souices say that the British and the Germans are locked in a terrific struggle north-west of Salerno. Allied warships have again approached the coast and are supporting the land forces with heavy naval guns. An Algiers communique states: “On the Adriatic coast our troops have reached the line of the Ofanto River. The advance continues successfully throughout the entire area. The towns of Spinazzola and Bella have been captured. The Fifth Army is fighting its way forward through difficult country, and the Germans are being forced to give ground slowly.” The arrival at the Ofanto River line represents a rapid advance in the direction of the Gulf of Manfredonia. The river joints the sea five milqs north-west of Barletta and 23 miles north-west of Molfetta, the capture of which was reported by Algiers radio last night. Between Barletta itnd Molfetta lies another important town, Trani. The Eighth Army’s line in eastern Italy follows the Ofanto River to Canosa, 15 miles inland. Reuter says that the capture of Canosa was not announced, but that the occupation of the- town is implied in an Allied communique reporting that the Eighth Army had reached the line of the river. Germans Avoid Battle.

Field-Marshal Kesselring is still avoiding battle against General Montgomery’s swiftly-moving forces of the Eighth Army, but the Luftwaffe’s evacuation of 12 satellite airfields round the big enemy airbase at Foggia may be significant. However, the evacuation of these airfields may not mean that Foggia will fall easily. The roads across the Apennines branch out from Foggia toward Naples and Rome. There are also other routes to the north. Possession of Foggia would give theAllies a stranglehold on the communications in south-eastern Italy. Possession of the airfields would enable additional valuable air support to be given to the’ Fifth Army. The Eighth Army advanced 25 miles yesterday and brushed aside some enemy resistance to enter the plain of Foggia.

ing camouflaged -pill-boxes and have also prepared minefields and trenches. The enemy appears to be stalling for time in the hope that the autumn rains will come to their rescue. Rain fell last night for the first time in nearly three weeks. The Germans inland appear to be withdrawing northward beyond Acerno. where the Americans are developing a heavy drive.