BEYOND NAPLES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 2 October 1943, Page 2

BEYOND NAPLES

FIFTH ARMY SPEARHEADS ITALIAN TROOPS CO-OPERATING EYES NOW ON ROME (Rcc. 1.40 p.m.) London, Oct. 1. The advance over the last 12 miles to Naples was a joyride for thc British and Americans says Reuter’s correspondent with the Fifth Army. German resistance ended at Torre Annunziata last night when the Germans fled under cover of darkness after fighting all day. Allied spearheads are already pushing on beyond Naples towards Aversa and Capua. Their eyes are on Rome about 100 miles ahead. Thc Allies entered Naples at 8 a.m. local time to-day. Algiers Radio says Italian troops cooperated in the capture of Naples, guarding lines of communication, leaving the Allies free for offensive action. Fifth Army column, outflanking Naples from the east, captured the city which was in ruins when Allied troops made their triumphant entry. All German pockets of resistance have been mopped up. adds Algiers Radio. The death blow to the German stand was the pummelling by Allied battleships lying offshore yesterday. CRUSADE IN ITALY ALLIES TO FREE ROME AND VATICAN ROOSEVELT AT PRESS CONFERENCE (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) Washington, Oct. 1. The objective of Allied forces in Italy was to free Rome, the Vatican and the Pope much in the manner of a crusade, while avoiding all possible desti’uetion, said President Roosevelt, addressing a press conference. Questioned whether he could comment on the report of General Marshall’s appointment to England. President Roosevelt replied: “It is possible that it has not been determined and a lot of people’s faces will get red,” the President said. For many months the Government had studied the position of aviation after the war. He and Mr Churchill had agreed there should be freedom in the air. There were conversations on the, same subject among American and Allied Governments. POSITION OF VATICAN STATEMENT - !BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT EFFORTS TO PROTECT CITY (Rec. 11.50 a.m.) Rugby, Oct. 1. The next German move was discussed to-day by President Roosevelt at a Press conference at Washington. He did not commit himself as to where it was likely to be but did give some particulars of the present state of affairs in Rome. The city, he said, was occupied by German forces and the Vatican was virtually surrounded. Although the Pope was not in a state of siege he had not anything resembling complete freedom because German troops were stationed round St. Peter’s Square, practically in his front garden. The President added that he hoped that monuments and the historical part of Rome would be recovered by the Allies without destruction. Everything possible would be done to protect the Vatican. The Germans would try to induce destruction in Rome by Allied forces and he indicated that American forces would be on the alert against any such effort. REPRISAL BY GERMANS 300 HOSTAGES SHOT London, Oct. 1. According to reports reaching the Yugoslav Government in Cairo 300 hostages were shot by way of reprisal following an attack on a German military train on the Belgrade-Nis line in which 20 German soldiers were killed and a great many injured.