ARMIES PUSH NORTHWARD STEADILY

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22137, 8 September 1943, Page 5

ARMIES PUSH NORTHWARD STEADILY

AXIS FORCES WILL SOON BE TRAPPED great assistance by navy and air force LONDON, September 7 Capturing Palmi, British and Canadian invasion forces in southern Italy are steadily pushing northward. The beach-head lias been extended to a width of 50 miles and good progress is being made up both coasts and into the mountains in the interior. The Algiers correspondent of the Daily Telegraph reports that the Eighth Army forces, after sweeping through Palmi tonight, are engaging German rearguards in the area of Giojatauro. I The German news agency sta .is that heavy engagements have tlv..eloped eight miles beyond Pa mi between advanced forces of the Eighth Army and the Germans. It adds that area fighting is reported near Giojatauro. Axis forces in the south-eastern corner will soon be trapped because the Allies have captured almost the whole of the first lateral road across the mountains from coast to coast. There is still no serious opposition but road demolitions are increasing. Allied planes are maintaining a dawn-to-dusk offensive. Today powerful forces attacked five airfields, four marshalling yards and a port, all within 50 miles of Naples and upon which southern Italy depends for its transport. Seventeen Axis planes were destroyed and the Allies lost four. The destroyer Quilliam helped in the taking of Palmi by bombarding enemy defences in the neighbourhood while further along the coast the Tactical Air Force has been softening enemy positions. The Navy is still landing supplies. Tanks and artillery are up with the leading Allied forces.