The Times FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1943. Two Months in Italy

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 263, 5 November 1943, Page 4

The Times FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1943. Two Months in Italy

On September 3, the fourth anniversary of the war and just two months ago, Allied forces landed upon the soil of Italy proper to carry out the invasion of that country. The initial landing was made across the Straits of Messina, from Sicily on the toe of Italy. Some time afterwards a further substantial landing was made some 200 miles north at Salerno, about 40 miles south of Naples. Meanwhile the Eighth Army advancing from the toe, and with further landings to supplement that advance, pressed east and north very rapidly so that.shortly after the Fifth Army’s landing at Salerno the two forces were able to junction for the reduction of Naples. That brief statement summarises our operations in Italy for the first two months. How much yet remains to be accomplished before the invasion of Italy becomes an accomplished conquest! Some disappointment has been lately expressed at the apparent slow progress made in this war theatre. To a considerable degree this has been inspired by comparison with reports from the Russian war theatre. These tell, week after week, of rapid advances made, thereby creating a rather erroneous impression. Actually, measured over a comparable period with the Italian campaign’s duration, the Russian advances have been averaging about five miles daily which is very fast going to maintain. From the date of the original landing in Italy it can be said of the Eighth Army that it too has averaged about live miles daily. Such progress can hardly be anticipated in the future unless German resistance cracks as it lin'aliv did in Tunisia.

Whereas the Russian front extends across vast open spaces with not much more than rolling downs providing elevation and great rivers, widely separated, giving the only natural defence line, the Italian topography is exceedingly mountainous. It offers every advantage to the defence just as the Russian front facilitates attack. The Allies’ advance up Italy would be somewhat akin to an enemy advancing from Southland up the width of the South Island. Italy has in her Apennines a great mountain chain extending from north to south, and in parts mountainous country stretching almost across the whole width of the peninsula. All main communication lines, both road and rail, run north and south. The present Italian line is §pt across the narrow waist of the peninsula lying 1 between Rome and Naples, about 50 miles south of the capital, and the width there is only about 90 miles, equivalent to that from Wanganui via Woodville to the East Coast. About 100 miles north of Rome again the country widens out to about 150 miles —about that from New Plymouth to Wairoa, across the broadest portion of the North Island, and a countryside all as mountainous. A determined defence of such a countryside makes conquest difficult. And that the Germans arc offering such a defence, and with an estimated strength of from 350,000 to 375,000 men, makes here a real war front. The magnitude of the task that lies before the Allies may be appreciated from the fact that almost 400 miles of Italian territory lies ahead of our forces, between their present line and the Swiss border. Over 300 miles yet separates them from the River >Po, which is generally regarded as the line upon which the Germans will make their final stand in Italy. The richest portion of the country lies between that river and the Alps. The news lias mentioned autumn rains as impeding warfare on this front. Doubtless these will be a considerable nuisance, just as they would be in New Zealand, but there is no reason to anticipate that winter would in any way diminish the vigour of fighting on the Italian front. It is to be reckoned that the Allied Command is consantly adding to its strength there and, although the Germans may desire to do likewise, Nazi resources should not permit of a comparable strengthening. It is to be estimated, therefore, that Allied ascendancy in Italy should increase. The Germans no doubt will fight hard and skilfully to delay our advance. And whereas our forces will feci the zest of victory, their’s must feel the chill of defeat suffered upon all fronts. And ever as they fight in Italy must the Germans feel a desire to look over their shoulders to Northwest Europe where at any time another invasion may be started from Britain.