BATTLE OF SALERNO

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1943, Page 5

BATTLE OF SALERNO

More In Allies' Favour

DAY OF BITTER FIGHTING

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

Eee. noon.

LONDON, September 15.

The battle of Salerno is still in the balance this evening, but Allied reinforcements continue to pour in to tip the scales and it is stated at Allied headquarters that at the end of a day of bitter fighting '' the situation is a little more in our favour."

Meanwhile, the Eighth Army is now only 67 miles from Salerno. The Eighth Army's northward push to join up with the Fifth Army will possibly rank as one of the most notable marches in military annals.

The Algiers correspondent of the British United Press says that General Montgomery's men, according to estimates at Allied headquarters, are expected to be south of Agropoli (on the coast 27 miles south-east of Salerno) and fighting in support of the Salerno forces by Friday, but headquarters warns against over-optimism in view of the possibility of increased opposition en route. The Eighth Army has advanced 24 miles in the past 24 hours.

Allied warships are greatly assisting* the Fifth Army. Berlin radio says that the Allied "evacuation" of Salerno has been suspended, that American troops are firmly holding' the coastal stretch and that strong German, counter-attacks continue.