HARD SLOGGING IN WEST

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 4, 30 September 1943, Page 5

HARD SLOGGING IN WEST

Race Against Rains LONDON, September 28. Though advancing less spectacularly than lhe Eighth Army, whose capture of Foggia will perhaps have immediate and important results, the Fifth Army also fought its way forward on its whole front yesterday, making Kesselring’s position in the Naples area markedly worse. The Fifth Amy. is now only a few miles from the Naples plain. It is already ou the hills dominating Nocera, from which the Germans have withdrawn to a position on the far side looking down on the village. British troops have thrust forward about two miles in the terrible country north of .Salerno, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters. The Germans still hold the higher mountain positions about three miles south-west of Nocera. Fierce fighting is in progress at Caramel Pass, which must be opened up before our armour can be utilized. This pass commands the neck of the Sorrento Peninsula and from it the road swings north-west to Nocera where it drops to an open plain. The Germans arc fighting hard and the battle is assuming the character of a race against the rains. , Our immediate aim is. to reach the plain before the ground "is too soft for armour, but if the Germans decide to fight no quick victory is expected when the plain is reached because guarding Naples are two bottlenecks—a narrow one on the seaward side and a broader, but. still awkward one inland. Algiers radio stated tonight that the

German retreat on the eastern sector was continuing. It also stated that the Eight li Army, on the central sector, occupied Venosa, about 10 miles east of Melfi. the capture of which was reported earlier. The British United Press says that the Allied thrust in the central sector threatens to cut off from Kesselring’s main body all the German troops remaining on the plain of Foggia and in the hilly country east of the main Anpcnine chain. This thrust is also outflanking the German positions at Naples. A strong Eighth Army mobile armoured corns, supported by the air torce, raced 25 miles to capture Foggia after a bloody encounter, in which the Germans suffered very heavy casualties. The enemy once again was taken by surprise. It is difficult to sec how the Germans can avoid a general withdrawal northward unless it has been decided to continue fighting at Salerno to give more time for the further destruction of port installations at Naples. Renter says the Germans are intensifying their' efforts to wreck Naples as the Allies thrust nearer. Air photographs show that the Nazis are sinking ships and carrying out demolitions dai.lv. Morley Richards, the “Daily Express” military writer, says that the Gormans falling buck on tho Bills north of Salerno to avoid being outflanked by.the Eighth Army. The despprato dofonop of the movmtn.mons ap* nroaehos to Nnnles is not an attempt to hold the citv, but is planned to give the main German forces time to escape the Eighth. A Hire's clutches. To The Po Line'?

As the Eighth Armv moves >n. the chain of airfields round Focgia will add greatly to the weight of. the attack on the enemy rear.

Some military observers in London believe the Ge'-m-ns may soon withdraw the whole of fhejr forces from .oiifheni end central Italy and man the River Po defences. r Todav’s German communique says that the British and Americans have landed new forces in southern Italy. Their pressure has increased considerably. The communique claims, that tho German troops in the Foggia area disengaged. according-to nlan. and withdrew to prepared mountain positions. Foggia was evacuated after the destruction of nil important war communications, adds the communique. Berlin radio's version of the loggia evacuation snys that the German rearguards attacked (he British before the town from the front and from the flanks The British suffered considerable casualties during a day of fierce fighting, in which their advance was completely stopped. Ttie evnen-ted ground had been thoroughly mined.