MORE TOWNS TAKEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 87, 9 October 1943, Page 7

MORE TOWNS TAKEN

QUAGMIRE BATTLEFIELDS

(By Telegraph—^Press Association—Copyright.)' Rec. 12.45 p.m. LONDON, October 8.

The Fifth Army has, swiftly consolidated the positions it gained by the capture of Capua by the occupation' of a series of - tcwns on the Volturno .River line, according to front-line dispatches. It is revealed that the Germans fought fiercely for the river bank positions. The Americans flung back powerful counter-attacks and clung ■to their hard>won captures in the heaviest fighting of the week. Conditions in the heavily waterlogged country are becoming worse with every day of the autumn rains. .'; ' Nearly four days of bitter fighting , were necessary before the enemy i nests of resistance between A versa and jthe Volturno River were smashed. Infantry had to labour through quagmires churned up by the passage of jeeps, tanks, and supply vehicles and pitted by mines.

The Allies on the Volturno are now standing, along a historic defence line on which, observers believe a decisive battle for Rome will be fought out. Key towns which the Allies .occupied in consolidation of their main •gains include Santa Maria, an important link in the chain of railways from Naplls to Rome and Reggio.

The Fifth Army troops in the mountainous central sector around Benevento are still fighting their way for-,-ward in face of stiff resistance. They are also facing steadily worsening ■weather conditions.