ALLIES DRIVE FORWARD

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22152, 25 September 1943, Page 5

ALLIES DRIVE FORWARD

STRONG GERMAN OPPOSITION EIGHTH ARMY PROGRESSES (Received Sept. 25, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24 The Fifth Army is meeting strong opposition as it is pushing forward in a big offensive on the Salenro front. Progress has been made against the German mountain positions guarding the route to Naples. Reuter’s correspondent reports that the Fifth Army is advancing along the Conturst highway. The offensive was launched at dawn today under a heavy artillery barrage. The Germans quickly realised the extent of the attack and brought into action every available gun, but they failed to halt the advancing forces. The toughest fighting occurred north of Salerno, where the British are attacking under almost incredible difficulties to dislodge the Germans from the dominating heights on which they are firmly established. The British in grim clashes in the valleys and on the mountain sides have made slight but painful progress. The battle is easier east of Salerno, where the Germans are still retreating. The Allied line now runs almost straight from the hills north of Salerno to Altamura and then sweeps north-east to Bari. Far ahead of the advancing land forces the Allied air forces are striking crippling blows against the German lines of communication leading to Naples. German Admissions Captain Sertorius, a German commentator, today admitted fierce engagements north of Salerno. “Increased Royal Air Force activity and the appearance of numerous British and American land batteries, as well as extensive troop movements to the front, indicate that a new phase of the Allied offensive in Southern Italy is imminent,” he said. The German radio stated that the Allied High Command had concentrated very considerable force in Italy. There were six British and three American infantry divisions, one British and one American airborne division, and two British and one American tank division. In addition there was a reserve of several divisions in Sicily for further operations. The radio added: “The enemy is using superior numbers of planes to put up a solid air umbrella over the ground forces and over shipping, the umbrella comprising shore-based and carrier-based fighters ,also a mass of anti-aircraft Are, combining to form a defence of volcanic strength. Moreover, some of our pilots are young and have difficulty in adapting themselves to the climate.”

Several scores of enemy transport planes were observed yesterday evacuating troops from Corsica. Seven were shot down, says Reuter’s Algiers correspondent. Large numbers of small boats were also seen aiding the evacuation.