CAPTURE OF EBOLI

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22149, 22 September 1943, Page 5

CAPTURE OF EBOLI

PUSH AGAINST NAPLES BIG ARTILLERY BARRAGE • United Press Assn.—Ei*?e. Tel. Copyright; LONDON, Sept. 21 Allied forces advancing from Salerno have captured Eboli, which is 15 miles inland, and are continuing to press on against light opposition. Fortresses and bombers of all kinds are attacking German targets in Italy almost without interference, so that they are able to fly safely without escorts. All of Western Corsica is reported to be in the hands of the French forces and the laws of the French Republic again operate in the island. A big push against Naples was launched yesterday morning by the forces under General Sir Harold Alexander. By the middle of the morning the advance was developing according to plan, with tanks and infantry moving forward under a great artillery barrage. A correspondent of the combined press with the Fifth Army says the hardest fighting is going on in the hills north of Salerno, where the enemy is making a desperate stand for the Naples plain. Control of Roads The Allied units pushing along the coast control all three roads running across the neck of the peninsula between the Gulfs of Salerno and Naples. Our troops are firmly placed on high ground and their long-range guns are trained on Naples across the gulf. North of Salerno, says the Algiers radio, the Allies are closing in on Avellino, which is an important road junction situated in a broad valley. East of Salerno Allied troops have made a new advance and captured ground near Monte Corvino, where an airfield is already in Allied hands. The formations thrusting up from Battipaglia and Altavilla are encountering less opposition than those driving from Salerno. North-east of the bridgehead enemy artillery is giving pur troops little trouble. The roads and mountain trails are lavishly mined, but engineers are clearing them under intense fire from cleverly-placed mortar and machine-gun posts. Germans Swinging Back The general impression gained from yesterday’s fighting at Salerno is that the enemy generally is loosening up as he swings back on his pivot, says a correspondent. Following reports from troops in the Lattari hills that the Germans were moving along the SalernoNocera road signals were sent to the air force and the Germans were bombed with such good effect that the signal came back, “Bravo. Repeat close.” Another correspondent says that the Allied troops, pushing in yesterday from the Salerno bridgehead, found that the enemy had evacuated more hillside villages. The naval bombardment force had a rest after the impressive shoot of the previous day, when over 30 tons were fired on targets, directed by a forward observation post. The hits scored included German headquarter buildings and motor transport. The Algiers radio reports that the Eighth Army is still advancing. The Germans on the right wing of the Salerno front have effected a further withdrawal and are trying to dig in on the heights to the north and north-east of Salerno. The front now extends between Monte Corvino, Ravello, Eboli and the River Sele. A correspondent says that one of our advanced patrols, pushing into the hills from Salerno yesterday, encountered a German patrol. The British got fire in first, killing a German officer and wounding his second-in-command. The others ran away.