Evening star., 1943-10-09
Allies Fight Way Over Vo|turno,
Nozis Rush In Crack Panzers;
; Jap Ships Sunk in So|omons
Germans Expected
To Make Determined
Stand Along River
Ey the Associated Press.

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS
Alglers, Oct. 9.-Allied patrols
have fought their way across the
lower Volturno River in Italy
where they are probing the
strong enemy defenseS on the
north bank, and the Germans
have flung another diviSion-the
Sd Armored Grenadiers-into
battle to hold that river line
Allied headquarters announced
today.
Allied forces have reached the
Volturno along its length from the
mountains to the sea, Associated
Press Correspondent Relman NORM
with the 5th Army, reported.
The strategic railway and high
way center of Caserta, l6 miles
above Naples on the southern size
OF the Volturno, was captured IS
the 5th Army mopped up the last
enemy resistance below the VClturno
and Calvore Rivers, official reports
disclosed.
American and British patrols torc-
ing the Volturno encountered brisk
small-arms and light artillery fire.
A headquarters officer emphasized
that front reports indicated no
major BODY Of the 5th Army had
yet penetrated across the stream,
and declared there is every indi-
cation the Germans intend to try
their best to hold there"
9Th Army Knocks Out Tanks.
On the Adriatic front the fighting
died down somewhat after three
DAYS Of heavy battling in which Gen.
Sir Bernard L. Montcomerv's Sth
Army Knocked out half Of 30 attack
Ing Nazi tanks, including nllge Mark
VI Tigers. thrown in rhc battle m
all attempt to break the British hold
on Termoli.
In the air the Northwest African
Force smashed out again yesterday
and Thursday at airflelds in Greece
Crete and the DodecaneSa. 1t was
double-play attack supported bv
RAF bonbeIs Of the Middle Fast
hitting at Heraklion, in Crete, ano
Calato. in Rhodes.
Heavy and medium bombers from
Northwest Africa pounded Nazi air
bases at Elevsis near Athens and
Herakllon yesterday, and on Thurs
DAY Llberators hammered the air.
feId at kaSteli in Crete and Martha
in Rhodes.
The Raj hit Heraklion Thursday
ana Calato last night, losing one
plane IN those and other attacks.
Some Areas Flooded.
Allied medium bombers and
fighters supporting the British on
the Adriatlc destroyed 20 motor
vehicles and damaged bridge at
Palata II miles west of Tcrmoli, and
Raj night hombers hit road iunc-
tons and bridges at Isernia and
Formia northeast and north of
Naples last night.
The Allied communiuue said tho
5th and 9Th Armies advanced two
TO three miles in their sectors de-
spite heavy rains and floods in some
areas. The weather continued bad
The German Sd Panzer Grena diers
now battling along the Volturno
were once regarded as a crack COM
bat unit.
Che Paris radio reported that
Allied forces in Italy now total
20 divisions, and said "a con-
siderable American naval force"
had bombarded German positions
near Vasto Is miles above
Termoli on the Adriatic
Captured documents disclosed that
the fierce German counterattacks
against Termoli were made under
Nazi high command orders to re
take the port and drive the British
back into the sea at all costs
The Germans paid A high cost
with the veteran 10Th Armored Di-
vision and the lst Parachute Troop
Division charging strongly, but it
gained them nothing and an official
message from Gen. Monteomerv's
headquarters declared the situation
was little changed" from the time
the NaziS elected to start their first
major stand against the British in
Italy.
Many Boohy Traps Used.
Bad weather grounded most
planes in Italv Yesterday. In op-
erations of the last % hours, seven
enemy planes we're shot down and
no allied planes were reported miss
ing
Before retreating across the VOL
turno, the enemy laid mines and
installed BOBBY traps in every pos
slhle place These have taken Il
heavy toll of Italian civilians.
The patrol actions were the first
Allied operations on the north bank
OF the Volturno in the vital plains
area stretching Is miles from Capua
to the sea. Farther inland. Amer
leans several days ago crossed the
Galore River and thus were in posi-
ton to menace the left flank of the
Germans massing to defend the
Lower Volturno. The fanking ef-
fort probably will be comparatively
slow. however, both because of
rains and deep mud and the noun
famous terrain.
The Volturno is swollen by heavy
rains, which produced flood condi-
tions on many portions of the whole
front from the Tyrrhenian to the
Adriatic Sea.
Because of deep mud. many ar
nlored and motorized units of both
the Allies and the Germans hove
been fighting dismounted actions.
Al I>I-.nf. TI,A: