NEAR THE APPIAN WAY

Evening Star, Issue 25005, 26 October 1943, Page 3

NEAR THE APPIAN WAY

Historic Road To Rome IMPORTANT GAINS TO ALLIES Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright (Kec. 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 24. The Fifth and Eighth Armies have made gains in the past 24 hours which, though not sensational, have great importance for the drive to Rome. The Fifth Army to-night, after the capture of Sparanise, is now within four miles of the historic road to Rome—the Appian Way. The Eighth Army is about the same distance from Vasto, having driven deep wedges into the German lines north of the Trigno River. The Americans, north of Capua,'advanced three, miles'to capture Sparanise. The Germans fought back furiously at Sparanise, says Reuter's correspondent at Allied headquarters. The Americans defeated four counter-attacks, and, as the military observer reported, "on each occasion gave the enemy a bloody nose." The Americans are now fighting beyond Sparanise for the 2,oooffc heights. Severe fighting occurred in another American sector, the Pi<matoro area, where four counter-attacks were thrown back in 24 hours. Renter says the Fifth Army threat to outflank the Ger» mans has reached a point where von Kesselring may be forced to evacuate his troops from the western pocket.