Evening star., 1943-10-06
Americans Cross Vo|turno River
With Nazis Reported in Retreat;
Clark Pours Reserves Into Action
More Towns Fall:
British, Germans
In Fierce Battle
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS. Al
elerS, Oct. 6.-The American 5th
Army has forced crossing of the
Volturno River, the Germans
strategic first line of defense on
the road to Rome, and captured
the towns of Aversa and Mad
dalOnl, it was announced today.
Aversa, an important rail juno
ton, is eight miles north of Naples
and Maddaloni is IA miles slightly
northeast.
One 5th Army unit crossed the
Volturno, which runs 20 miles above
Naples, at an unspeCified point The
river, flowing into the coastal plain
on the west side of Italy. had been
expected to be the scene of a de-
laying action by the NaZis
Fifth Army units, rolling through
The coastal plain of Naples, ocCu-
pied all the territory up to Lago di
Patrla a marShy lake 10 miles north
of Cape Miseno and about miles
from the mouth OF the Volturno.
This advance swept up the towns
of Pozzuolo, Qualiano, Villarecca,
Anzano and Marano and straight
ened the Allied line to run almost
due west from AVerSa to the coast
Reserves of Ii Gen. Mark w.
Clark's troops we're thrown into ac-
ton because OF stubborn German
resistance
Earlier today the Cairo radio
declared the 5th Army advance
beyond the Galore River. north
east OF Naples. has imperiled the
whole German defensive system
along the Volturno and said the
bulk of the German force is re-
treating we'll beyond the Volturno
and only screen for rear-guard
cover has been left behind.D
On the AdriatlC side. Gen Sir Ber-
nard l. Montgomery British 9th
Army engaged the Germans in
heavy fighting along the Biferno
River line near Termoi as the
enemy attempted a strong delaying
action there.
The Germans have thrown four or
sve divisions CUP to 10000 to $4,000
troops into the Italian battle line,
Nazis Using Tanks.
The Nazis are using tanks in their
fight in the Biferno River area. and
lively artillery duels took place yes
ferday along the river, which British
lnits have crossed in some places.
Four waves of Flying Fortresses
poured hundreds of tons of bombs
Yesterday on Bologna, rail junction
on the Brenner Pass line 160 miles
below the German border, in "one OF
the most accurate and successful"
raids ever made by the Northwest
African Air Force.
Bombs ripped into freight yards,
locomotive sheds, workshops, build
ings. warehouses, oil tanks and
sugar factory in Bologna, focal point
Of heavy rail traffic. setting huge
fires. The Fortresses sent down 8 of
80 to IS opposing enemy planes.
This attack followed an assault
Monday on Bolzano on the same
rail line 35 miles below Brenner
Pass.
Increase in Dcm0litionS.
An Allied COmmunique said the
Sth Army was cncountering an in
crease in demolitionS. CraterS and
mines on the route along which they
are advancing.
The 5th Army, in addition to
bringing up reserves rushed the
repair Of bridges blown up in the
path of their advance by the re-
treating Germans, the communique
said
German resistance also stiffened
In the mountainous frontal sector
of the 10O-mile Zigzag front line
across Italy-Whlch now runs from
The area on the west coast a little
north of Naples through Aversa,
Senevento and Montecalvo to the
Adriatic at the mouth Of the Biferno.
Along the Tyrrhcnian coast in
The west the land is comparatively
,evel up to the Volturno River
North Of that stream rise the hills
Of CarlnOla. Twenty miles north
of the VOlturno another river-the
Gari2liano-nows into the sea and
after that come the Aurunci Noun
tains. The Germans undoubtedly
will make use of all these natural
advantageous features in impeding
the drive or Rome.
The Germans at present are
(See ITALY. Page A-8D