NEW LANDINGS

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

NEW LANDINGS

ON ITALIAN MAINLAND EIGHTH ARMY’S PROGRESS MANY TOWNS CAPTURED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyriylu) (Received Sept. 8, noon) LONDON, Sept. 7 While the Algiers radio tonight stated that new Allied reinforcements have landed on the Italian mainland correspondents reported the Eighth Army’s further progress and a continuance of the air blitz against Naples. The British United Press correspondent reports that 39 towns and villages have so far been captured on the Calabrian Peninsula. The occupation of Delianuova by a force swinging inland from Bagnara means that the Eighth Army has cut thse mountain road leading to Bovalino, on the opposite coast line. The correspondent adds: “In view of the Allied advance across the Aspromonte Range it appears that the Italian troops remaining in the toe of Italy must quickly retreat or capitulate.” The Algiers radio reported that the Allies have captured Simopoli, six miles inland from Bagnara. It is officially revealed that the Allies have landed tanks on the Italian mainland. Eighth Army’s Objective Correspondents report that the Eighth Army and Canadians are meeting with practically no opposition, but today’s Italian communique says: “During the slow and orderly withdrawal from the coastal sectors of southern Calabria the Axis troops are engaging in lively fighting against the enemy’s vanguard.” The present objectives of the Eighth Army are believed to be Pizzo, 50 miles north-east of Regglio, and Catanzaro, 25 miles north-east of Pizzo. The possession of these towns would amputate the toe of Italy. The British battleships Nelson, Rodney, Valiant and Warspite are ceaselessly shelling enemy gun positions and strong points along the coast. The military correspondent of the Times says there has apparently been an almost complete Axis evacuation of the toe of Italy. “The first unofficial reports of resistance were completely misleading,’’ he says. “There has been no resistance to speak of and reports of ‘mass Italian surrenders’ are equally wide of the mark, as shown by the tart that wc have taken only 3000 prisoners.” Destruction at Naples Allied bombers in the past 24 hours have hammered five airfields, four vital marshalling yards and one port—all within 50 miles of Naples. One correspondent describes the city as rirged by an arc of fire and destruction. An Italian communique says: “Many enemy planes bombed the centre cf Naples yesterday, causing great damage. They also attacked Salerno and other localities in the Naples area. The British United Press Algiers correspondent says that the Tactical Air Force’s most successful operation yesterday was against Sibari. American invader fighter bombers literally tore up the railway junction buildings in a daylight attack^ According to the Madrid reports confusion and panic are sweeping Rome as the Allies drive forward in Southern Italy.

Italian fears have also been increased by the threat of new landings, strongly indicated by the terrific Allied air offensive against airfields and railways in the Naples area in the last 43 hours.