AFFECTED BY WEATHER

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22468, 2 October 1944, Page 5

AFFECTED BY WEATHER

CAMPAIGN IN ITALY DECISIVE WEEKS AHEAD (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Oct. 2, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct, 1 The weather in Italy is giving the Germans unexpected breathing space, says the Daily Mail’s Rome correspondent. The Allies may have a close race with the rains in their bid to drive across the plains of Lombardy to the Alps. The rains are bogging down men and machines and baulking the Eighth Army from the early fruits of its triumph in surmounting the last Apennine peak and the Fifth Army of its victory in the Gothic Line. The autumn break in the weather has come earlier than usual and there is a fairly good chance that it will be temporary, giving one more dry spell enabling both armies to finish their task. The next two or three weeks will be decisive. The British United Press correspondent says that the Allied advance in the eastern half of the front continues despite the bad weather. Fierce fighting developed a few miles north of the Rubicon river. The Fifth Army is now 17 miles from Bologna, after advancing three miles today. The Allies a few miles eastward on parallel roads to Imola and Forli gained ground. The Germans used elements of at least three divisions, flame-throwers and heavy artillery in a counterattack against Monte Battaglia. The identification of prisoners showed that reinforcements were rushed from other sectors, but despite all the Germans’ efforts the attack was beaten off.