FIFTH ARMY’S ADVANCE

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22155, 29 September 1943, Page 3

FIFTH ARMY’S ADVANCE

FIERCE FIGHTING PROGRESSING DESTRUCTION AT NAPLES (Received Sept. 29, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28 Although advancing less spectacularly than the Eightn Army, whose capture ci Foggia will have perhaps immediate ana important results, tne Filth Army also fought forward on its whole front, yesteraay, making Kesselring’s position in tne Naples area markedly worse. The Fifth Army is now only a few miles from the Naples plain. It is already cn the nilis dominating Nocera, from which the Germans have withdrawn to a position on the far side looking down on the village. The British troops have thrust forward about two miles in the terrible country north of Salerno, says Reuter's correspondent at Allied Headquarters. The Germans still hold the higher mountain positions abcut three miles south-west of Nocera. «.

Fierce fighting is progressing in Caramel Pass, which must be opened up before armour can be utilised. This pass commands the neck of the Sorrento Peninsula and from it the road swings north-west to Nocera, where it arops to the open plain. Race Against Rains

The Germans are fighting hard and the battle is assuming the character of a race against the rains. Our immediate aim is to reach the plain before the ground is too soft for aimour. But no quick victory is expected when the plain is reached if the Germans decide to fight, because guarding Naples are two bottlenecks around Mount Vesuvius —a narrow one on the seaward side and a broader but still awkward one inland.

The Algiers radio tonight stated that the German retreat in the eastern sector is continuing.

It also stated that the Eighth Army in the central sector occupied Venosa, about 10 miles east of Melfi, whose capture was reported earlier. The British United Press says that the Allies’ thrust in the central sector threatens to cut off from Kesselring’s main body all the German troops remaining on the plain of Foggia ana the hilly country east of the main Appenine chain. This thrust is also outflanking the German positions in Naples. Germans Taken by Surprise

The strong Eighth Army Mobile Armoured Corps, supported by the air force, raced 25 miles to capture Foggia after a bloody encounter, in which the Germans suffered the heaviest casualties. The enemy once again was taken by surprise. It is difficult to see how the Germans can avoid a general withdrawal northwards unless it has been decided to continue fighting at Salerno to give more time for the further destruction of port installations at Naples. Reuter says that the Germans are intensifying their efforts to wreck Naples as the Allies thrust nearer. Air photographs show that they are sinking ships and carrying out demolitions daily.