ALLIES’ SWIFT ADVANCE

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22153, 27 September 1943, Page 5

ALLIES’ SWIFT ADVANCE

MENACE TO FOGGIA ENEMY LEAVES AIRFIELDS (Uniirrl Press Assn. —Elec. T'l. Copyright) (Received Sept. 27, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 26 The Fifth and Eighth Armies are meeting sharply contrasting conditions at either end of the Allied line across Southern Italy. The Eighth Army, which has advanced 300 miles since the landing at Reggio, is now swarming on to the Foggia Plain, less than 25 miles south of Foggia. Kesselring is still avoiding battle against General Montgomery’s swiftly-moving forces, but the Luftwaffe’s evacuation of 12 satellite airfields around the big enemy air base of Foggia may be significant. However, the evacuation of these airfields may not mean that P'oggia is falling easily. The roads across the Appenines branch out from Foggia towards Naples and Rome. There are also other routes northwards.

The possession of Foggia would give the Allies a stranglehold on the south-eastern Italian communications. Possession of the airfields would enable additional valuable air support to be given the Fifth Army. The Eighth Army advanced 25 miles yesterday and brushed aside some enemy resistance to enter the plain of Foggia. The composite Anglo-American Fifth Army, at the other end of the Allied line, is advancing yard by yard across the mountain defiles a few miles north of Salerno. The Fifth Army, moving forward on a 25-mile front, holds a bottleneck on the road from Nocera to Naples, also key positions on the mountain road to Benevento.

Units of the Fifth Army captured Cavaditerreni, four miles north-west of Salerno, advanced another mile, and captured Senerchiavalva. Germans Pushed Back

Reuter’s correspondent with the Fifth Army says that the battles in which the Germans were pushed back from the mountain fastnesses verging on the Nocera road resemble that for Longstop Hill and other battles for Tunisian heights. Transport in many sectors is possible only by pack mules. Well-concealed German artillery and mortar positions must be wiped out one by one. Allied bombers are ceaselessly hammering road junctions and enemy positions before the advancing Fifth Army. The American Press says that Americans of the Fifth Army advanced 30 miles in six days. The advance was considerably inland but the exact line is not revealed for security reasons. ' • Reports from Axis sources say that the British and Germans are locked in a terrific struggle north-west of Salerno. Allied warships again approached the coast, supporting the land forces with heavy naval guns. Eighth Army’s Line The Eighth Army line in eastern Italy follows the Ofanto River to Canosa. Reuter says the capture of Canosa has not been announced, but the occupation of the town is implied by an Allied communique reporting that the Eighth Army has reached the river line. An Algiers communique states: On the Adriatic coast our troops have reached the line of the Ofanto River. The advance continues successfully in the entire area. The towns of Spinazzola and Atella have been captured. The Fifth Army is fighting its way forward through difficult country and the Germans are being forced to give ground slowly. The arrival at the Ofanto River line represents a rapid advance in the direction of the Gulf of Manfredonia. The river joins the sea five miles north-west of Barlatta and 23 miles north-west of Molfetta, the capture of which was reported by the Algiers radio last night. Between Barletta and Molfetta lies another important town, Trani. Spinazzola is a junction where the railway from Barletta meets the line north-west from Aitamura to Melfi. It is 26 miles south-west of Barletta

The capture of Atella, some ten miles south of Melfi, represents a still further advance from the former position.