SALERNO FRONT

Grey River Argus, 24 September 1943, Page 5

SALERNO FRONT

SLOW ENEMY RETREAT

Allied Captures in the South Yugoslav Peoples’ Army LONDON, September 23. An Allied communique on Wednesday stated: The Fifth Army continues to regroup and to move forward. San Cipriano (six mile? north-east of Salerno), Montecorvino (seven miles north of Battipaglia), Ravello (in the hills above Amalfi), and Campagna (10 miles north-east of Eboli) have been captured. A Reuter correspondent at Allied headquarters says: British forces took San Cipriano, and the Americans took Campagna a.nd Montecorvina Ravello. When the Fifth Army landed at Salerno beach head, the British were allotted th e northern zone and the Americans the southern- sector. It was the British who captured Salerno town and the mountain passes north and northeast. The American sector saw some of the bloodiest fighting before the bridgehead was firmly established. Salerno plain is cleared of tne enemy. but littered with tanks and guns. Heavy casualties have been inflicted on the Germans and large numbers of prisoners taken A fair percentage of prisoners are nonGermans. Thev are levies from con ; trolled countries, indicating the shortage of German manpower. “The Germans on the Salerno front are holding prettv firmly on their right flank north of Salerno,” says a 8.8. C. correspondent, “but they are pulling out steadily on their left flank. It is quite possible that tne enemy’s heavy losses in his recent unsuccessful counter-attacks have hastened his decision to retreat.”

A correspondent with the sth Armv reports that the entire Salerno Valiev is cleared of Germans and the sth Armv in this sector, is pursuing the enemy into the hills, many miles back from the landing beaches. “In the northern Salerno section. British elements are sticking doggedly to the slowlv retreating Germans, who are taking full advantage of the mountainous terrain to delav the advance along the road to Naples. With tne acquisition of airfields Allied air strength has grown tremendously. The Luftwaffe will need to be at full strength if it intends to cope with Tedder’s forces. Under permanent air cover, troops and supplies continue to pour into the original beachhead, which now looks more like a great new port in the stagp of construction than the bathing resort it was two weeks ago. American engineers have done wonders in building devices to ensure rapid unloading of men, supplies and the original beachmasters, who stood courageously at the water’s. edge with shells landing all round in the first days, have promoted themselves to be harbourmasters, a title they well deserve.” Operations in which Allied forces are engaged stretch from north of Salerno almost straight across Southern Italy to the opposite coast. General Eisenhower has been on a visit to the Salerno area. He said: “The Allied forces, are rapidly getting into position seriously to undertake a major battle with the Germans. The Allied losses in establishing the Salerno bridgehead were reasonably heavy, but no greater than was anticipated in view of tne bitter opposition. The Allied Command knew the grave risks involved, but we wer e plaving for big stakes. It is reported that Germans executed General Gonzaga, Italian Commander of the coast defences on the Gulf of Salerno, for non-co-operation with German forces. ALLIED COMMISSION. (Rec. 9.50) WASHINGTON, Sept. 23. Senator Hull, Secretary of State, addressing a press conference, said that representatives of Britain, the United Slates, and Russia would meet soon in North Africa to establish a Mediterranean Commission. The participation of China in this Commission was not yet decided on, but China would always be kept informed concerning matters in that part of the world.

EIGHTH ARMY.

OCCUPATION OF POTENZA.

LONDON, Sept. 23.

The British United Press correspondent says there is little information of the' lighting in what is called the Taranto area, though it is known a stiff but small-scale engagement is going on somewhere north of Potenza. possiblv in the Altamura area. The Sth Army occupied the important communications centre of Potenza (mid-way between the west and east coasts and more than 50 miles from the Gulf of Taranto and the same distance south-east ol Salerno). ' . .

Capture of Salerno greatly increases the mobility of the main body of the Bth Army still coming up from the south. Potenza is practically in a line with Campagna, one of tjie places in the Salerno area which the sth Armv captured. Cawpagna lies a few miles north-west ol Buccino. . , The Berlin radio’s commentator, Captain Sertoj?iu,s, to-night said the bulk of General Montgomery’s forces were on the line Buccino-Potenza-Altamura. It was known the Stn Army were advancing north along the east coast road.

The British United Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters, says an Allied patrol which stowed away on an Italian train and rode most of the way to Potenza played an important part in the fall of the town. The patrol jumped off when the tram moved into the hills overlooking Potenza. For four days the patiol watched the Germans and reported back to the Sth Army. They also had a grandstand view of the Alned bombing of the town. Finally their information enabled the town to be taken with the minimum of trouole. Battle for Naples BOTH SIDES PREPARING. ITALIANS FIGHTING GERMANS LONDON. Sept. 23. Allied Air Forces on Monday mgm attacked roads and enemy troops m the battle area and on Tuesday heavy and medium bombers raided road and railway bridges at Benevento, Capua, and Cancello fall in the Naples area) and lighter-bombers attacked enemy transport. Algiers radio said: lhe scale of demolitions at Naples seems to indicate the Germans have given up all hope of' holding the city. Reports from neutral sources say that severe lighting is taking place in Naples between German and Italian troops. Many Italian officers and troons have been executed. Fighting among the houses is go-

ing on everywhere. Civilians are participating with stones and bare hands. The Germans, in contrast to their previous behaviour seem to have been given a free hand to 111-treat the Italians and kill wantonly. Italian soldiers are being given swastika armbands, and marched out to build defences for the Germans.

The Germans are forming a defensive ring around Naples, says the Telegraph’s correspondent at Allied headquarters. Blasted from the bridgehead south of Salerno, and pivoting back on the hills north and north-east of that port, tneir new line will face south instead of west. They are now busy digging in, blocking the approaches to Naples. Large fires and demolitions continue in the citv which is covered by a pall _of smoke indicating that Marshal-Kes-selring is not prepared to allow it to fall into Allied hands intact, if his army cannot hold our troops in tne northward drive.

An Italian sailor who escaped from Naples to Capri in a rowing boat gave Allied headquarters a grim story of conditions within Naples. He said that with terrific explosions, as the Germans blow up docks, jetties, and warehouses under an ever-grow-ing pall of smoke, German soldiers are flogging Italians in the streets of Naples for the most trivial offences. He said the Germans, on a variety of pretexts, are rounding up as many as 50 Italians at a time and shooting them en bloc. ■ Other Italians who escaped report rape, pillage, and slaughter comparable with anything which occurred in Warsaw. The Rome radio to-night announced that General Kesselring had ordered the execution of anybody guilty of hoarding food or operating a “black market.” . Tins was stated to be essential to overcome serious food shortages. A neutral report states the Germans are looting food from Italian villages and farms because of tne failure of their own food supplies. The Rome radio has further ordered all men within Rome belonging to the 1920-25 military classes to report immediately for service.

ITALY’S ADRIATIC COAST.

LONDON, Sept. 23.

A British United Press correspondent, says the Germans are holding positions somewhere north of Bari. They have been sending down armoured patrols to probe the strength of Allied advancing forces. As these advanced they became less curious. The Germans are moving back so fast thev have no time for demolitions. As a result, Allied troops are rolling over bridges which tney expected to find blown up.

French Gains in Corsica

LONDON, Sept. 22.

General Giraud’s headquarters states: The Germans have withdrawn from the Levie sector of Corsica, after heavy fighting. American commandos are fighting with French patriots and regulars . The enemy is withdrawing from Bonafacio and Porto Vecchio northwards. "French troops in Corsica are vigorously supporting and efficiently coordinating with the actions, of Corsican Patriots.” The entire western part of Corsica has already been liberated. Our advanced elements in the eastern part are holding St. Florent, Corte, Zonza, Levie, and Sartene. The enemv attempted to takp possession of Sorba and Inseca, but were repelled. Light units oi patriots and regular forces are constantly harassing German communication lines and pushing towards Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio. Algiers radio said that the German forces were falling back on Bastia, from where they may evacuate the island. . a An air communique from Allied headquarters in North Africa says that Liberators of the 9th United States Army Air Force (based in the Middle East), operating under the direction of air headquarters, in Algiers, yesterday attacked harbour installations at Bastia and at Legr horn, the nearest port of the Italian mainland. Medium bombers attacked troop concentrations and ground forces in the battle area in Corsica. Last night the harbour installations at Bastia were again bombed. ROME DEMONSTRATIONS. LONDON, September 22. Algiers radio reports that Germans have fired on crowds demonstrating in Rome, where resistance is increasing. Yugoslav Split ? M I KHAI LOVITCH’S FORCES. LOSE 2,100 MEN TO PARTISANS. (Rec. 8.50.) LONDON, Sept. 23. The Yugoslav People’s Army of Liberation, in a communique which has been broadcast by the Free Yugoslav Radio, says: “A Partisan detachment of one thousand men, near Comilja, have repelled an attack bv the forces of General M'.khailovitch, over two thousand oi whom were killed. Over one hundred of them were taken prisoner.