Evening star., 1943-11-04
Nozis Hurled Back
For Advances of
5 to 8 Miles
BULLETIN.

Algiers PD.-Allied headquar-
ters announced tonight the
capture of Isernia, key noun
tain road junction in the GEN.
tral front.
Marshal Erwin Rommel's
mountain line was falling to
pieces under the combined
blows Of the 5th and 9th
Armies.
U. S. LOSSES IN YEAR total 3l,l26
men, Secretary Stimson reveals.
Page Az
By the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS
Algiers, Nov. Alt. Gen. Mark
w. Clark's 5th Army advanced
on a 40-mile front for gains of
to 8 miles on the Western Italian
sector, moving to within IS miles
of Rome and throwing the enemy
back in a steady retreat across
the broad Garigliano River
Valley, Allied headquarters an
nounced today.
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery S
9th Army also advanced in nearly
all sectors, marching up the Botano-
Isernia road and battering its way
into Castelpetroso, less than 7 miles
OF Isernla. the mountain
highway hub in the center Of
Marshal Erwin Rommels S present
defense line.
Gen Clark British and Ameri-
cans swept the Germans from then
last strongholdS around MassiCo
Ridge the massive anchor of the
strongly fortified mountain line
which the Germans apparently
hoped to hold until winter. and
brushed them out OF their last foot
holds on lofty San Croce Mountain
to the northeast.
Astride Main Coastal Road.
At the end of yesterday, by stead
lily roofing out nests of resistance
Gen. Clark S forces were astride the
main coastal road to Rome at a
point beyond Sessa Aurunca, be-
tween the two mountains
In addition to SesSa AurunCa the
pursuing British and Americans also
occupied Roccamonfina. miles
of Teano at the foot OF
San Croce, and Presenzsno north
west of San Croce and ) miles
southeast of Mignano.
Gen. Montgomery's 9th Army
forced new crossings Of the TrignC
River on the Adriatic front but a
savage battle ragged around its orig
inal bridgehead at the railway
station of San Salvo. where the
Nazis threw tanks and artillery into
repeated attempts to hurl the Brit
lSh back over the barrier.
COunterattackS RepulSed.
At least 20 Mark " special tanks
participated in the enemyS dcS-
perate but futil countcrattackS anc
at the end of a day of bloody fight
ing Gen. Montgomery had driver
them all back and gained some
ground and taken a considerable
number of German prisoners.
AS the British waves swept over
Mount MasSico and British and
Americans rolled across San Croce
the Germans left behind a scene Of
devastation aimed at impeding the
advance until new defense line
can be established, perhaps with
the towering AurunCi Mountains
beyond the Garigliano as hinge
Examination of the newly cap
tured positions showed the Germans
had spent six weeks in the feverish
building of heavily gunncd fortili-
cations in the hope OF making them
impregnable bastions.
Called Fine Performance.
The American capture of Presen-
zano, miles south of Venafro. an.
other communications center in the
German line, was described by 4
military commentator as most i'm
PoA eolit anu n FCIS llllC pei III III
ance," particularly for troops who
gained their first real taste of mod.
ern warfare only a few weeks age
at Salerno
This brought the Americans alsc
within striking distance of Isernia
Is miles to the northeast, also
threatened by Gen. Montgomery
advance on the east side of the
Maltese Mountains.
The Americans in the advance
along the Via Casilina seized the
towns and villages of Tavernole
Pagliarone. Boscofonito, Valogno
Corbara. Mariana, Civitella. Cep,
rani, Picilli, Terracarpo, Caldaroni
Caranello, Caranellovecchi, Furnolo
Casale, Gloriana. Adrivola, Tavola
fSee ITALY, Page A-3D