The Wilmington morning star., 1943-10-09
IS TAKEN
BY FIFTH ARMY
Continued From Page One)

| convert the nOrtn DdIk 1lllo d 1o1 u
fled line capable of hating the vic
torious Allied troops.
The battle line now runs from
the mouth of the Volturno to Capua,
southeast to Maddaloni, northeast
to Benevento where it crosses the
Galore river to Montecalvo, and
from there northeastWard to the
Adriatic just north of Termoli.
"A Canadian press dispatch re-
ported that Canadian troops with
the Eighth Army under Gen. Mont
gomery had mounted positions
dominating strategic valley IN
the Termoli area on the Adriatlc
coast. 1t described the fire from
German artillery and mortar bat
teries as the heaviest the Cana
dams had encountered since they
began their northward push week
ago.
In the mountainous central area
of the front Allied forces were re-
ported pushing the Germans steadi-
ly back. An Allied communicate
said the Fifth Army had made
steady progress in repairing COM
munications destroyed by the with
drawing Nazis and by Allied air
attack.
Bad weather curtailed the Am
erican and British bomber often
sive against German-held positions
yesterday. but fighter bombers
managed to fly through the clouds
to strafe roads behind the enemy
lines, destroying II vehicles and
damaging others. Among their tar
gets was a big Tiger tank.
Inland from Capua the Germans
at last report still held dwindling
foothold below the Volturno, but
they were being rapidly cleaned
out and any enemy forces remain
ing in that sector doomed to ami
! hilation.
There was no immediate infor-
nation whether the Fifth Army
was able to capture any bridges
over the Volturno before they could
be dynamited by the fleeing enc
my. Among the small towns taken
in yesterdays sweep were Villa
Literno, Marcianise, Casal di Prin-
cipe and Trentola.
Capua, ancient Roman city that
was famous for its training school
for gladiators. stands at the origi-
nal eastern terminus of the Ap-
plan Way to Rome. Two modern
highways now connect it with the
Italian capital, one following the
old Appian route along the coast
to Terracina and the other swing
ing inland. 1t is 10 miles from
Rome by rail.
Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery S
British and Canadians on the Adrla'
tic repealed more fierce counter
attacks by German tanks, includ'
ing Cotton Tigers, took the often
sive and occupied an important
high area above Termoli, head
quarters announcement said.
Six German divisions were re-
ported engaged in resisting the
Allies along the twisting 110-mile
front across the italian waist. Maj
divisions so far identified in the
fierce fighting we're the famous 18th
armored division, which was wip'
ed out at Stalingrad and later re-
constituted; the Hermann Goering
26th and goth armored divisions,
the 18th armored grenadiers anc
d parachute division.
In throwing the cream of their
armored divisions against Mont
gomery's forces the Nazis were
making a desperate effort to stem
this side door, threat to Rome
The British Eighth Army, aided
BY seaborne landings and support
ed by the fire of destroyers. ha:
reached a point approximately l3'
miles east and slightly north o
the capital.
Raj Spitfires patrolling the Ter
moli area, where the enemy APP
peared to have concentrated hi
meager air strength to supper
counterattacks against the British
and Canadians, shot dow foul
| Messerschmitt-10 9s during the da.
and destroyed a Junkers-88 borlh