NEW OFFENSIVE

Evening Star, Issue 25004, 25 October 1943, Page 3

NEW OFFENSIVE

EIGHTH ARMY ON THE MOVE DEEP WEDGE DRIVEN IN ENEMY DEFENCES (Rec. 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 24. The Eighth Army is developing a powerful new offensive along the east coast of Italy and standing firmly on bridgeheads gained on the north bank of the Trigno River, from which strong forces are thrust* ing out. , Despatches from the front say reinforcements are flowing forward without interruption for strengthening the bridgeheads and pressing home the wedge driven deep into the enemy defences.

The increasing momentum; of the attack along she river line is forcing the Germans uack across the stream ai many points. The Eighth Army, when in position to exploit the north bank gains, will be able to move out towards the Vastoi-Isernia road, five miles dis tant, then strike westward, providing a new communication line to the troops in the west.

1 One lateral road across Italy which crosses Trigno is immediately threatened. The next great lateral link is the motor road through Isernia, lying in the Eighth Army's path only a few miles, from the spearheads which are bitinz into von Kesselring's defences. Correspondents say. exposure of the lateral defences to attack is the principal, gain of the Trigno crossing.