FURY IN AIR

Evening Star, Issue 25003, 23 October 1943, Page 5

FURY IN AIR

| ALLIES ISOLATING ROME BLASTING WAY FOR ARMIES (Rec. 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 22. The most intense air onslaught since the Salerno landing has carried the attack to the Germans, who are attempting to consolidate the new Koine defence line north of the lower reaches of the Volturno River from Mondragone, on the seashore, to Venafro. Reuter's Algiers correspondent says Air Chief-Marshal Tedder's air fleets with deadly persistence are now isolating Rome from the north, blockading . 1110 city which is western Italy's communications bottleneck. The correspondent points to the significance of the aerial blockade in the present situation, in which the opposing armies are sparring for positions Correspondents declare that the Germans, under the devastating rain of bombs, are facing the impossible task of repairing the shattered chain of roads, rail bridges, and highways on which Rome's entire supply system depends. The Allied planes are sweeping the skies almost unchallenged, and the fury of their attack is at present overshadowing land operations. The Air Force's methodical destruction of bases of German resistance in southern Italy is playing an all-import-ant part in blasting the road to Rome for the Fifth and Eighth Armies. General Clark's army is massing for a big battle, which it is believed will be fought among the picturesque Apennine valleys. The Fifth Army is expected to strike along the upper reaches of the Volturno against Venafro, which is 10 miles east of Cassino. The right wing of the thrust which resulted in the captures of Alife and Piedmonte Dalife has already gained important positions less than 20 miles from Venafro. The capture of Alife and Piedmonte Dalife straightens the Allied line from Dragoni to Vinchaituro. After the capture of Alife a heavy German counter-attack was re-, pulsed.

While work on the new offensive continues German shock detachments are making sharp counter - blows against isolated sections of the Allied line. The latest counter-attack was made against Cancello. The Germans threw in considerable weight, but the Fifth Army stood firm. According to the Cairo radio, the Allies have occupied Baranello.

The Allies are advancing all along the Italian front in spite of bad weather and lively enemy, resistance, says the Algiers radio. The Eighth Army has pushed forward four or five miles and occupied heights dominating Baranello. The Paris radio says the Eighth Army launched three attacks against Baranello, and fierce fighting is going on around the town.

The Fifth Army has taken 17 more villages. The Germans-sent two fresh divisions to the western sector in an attempt to delay the advance on Rome. Allied headquarters say that Fifth Army patrols have made contact with the new' German line along the Massico Ridge, where the enemy is reported to be well dug in. Despatches to the Swedish Press from Berlin state that the. regrouping of Allied reinforcements in Italy and the assembly 1 of Allied forces in Sicily and Sardinia indicate that' General Eisenhower is preparing a big invasion of the west coast of Italy behind the German front. ' .

The newspaper ' Dagens Nyhe'ter ' quotes a Berlin spokesman as stating that von Kesselring has anticipated the eventuality of Allied landings atseveral places on the west coast, and is fully prepared.