Evening star., 1943-10-20
Nazis Use Scorched-Earth Tactics
In Retreat to New Line in |ta|y;
Observation-Disclosures
3 Scared Towns
Fall; British in
East Drive On
By the Associated Press.

Inc american 9TH Army forced
the Germans into violent
scorched-earth retreat today to
a line stretched from the noun
tain faStneSs of Venafro, 83 miles
southeast Of Rome, to the village
of Mondragone, 80 miles below
the Italian capital, on the Tyr
rhanean Sea.
Three towns, horribly SCARED by
Nazl destruction, fell. These were
Dragonl, 2l2 miles northwest of
Alvlgnano: Pignataro, miles north
OF the Volturno River town of
Capua, and Roccaromana, miles
northwest of Liberi. Advances ranged
up to miles.
The British 9th Army pushed the
right anchor of the Allied line 5
miles forward to seize Petacciato on
the Adrlatic. 8 miles west of Termoli.
The village had been converted into
heavily fortified zone, but British
tanks and artillery beat down the
increasing enemy opposition.
AnDCi CidtUIS DldSt halfway.
Iiberator bombers ranged far up
the Adriatic coast and knocked out
the crucial enemy railway between
Ancona and Pescara. Four bridges
were destroyed in half hour by the
completely unopposed American
flyers.
AS the Germans were forced back
toward Rome they left behind one
Of the wars worst scenes of desc
lation. They wiped out civilians as
well as their cattle and homes, dis
patches from Allied headquarters in
Algiers said.
Their new line was established in
q series of difficult steep ridges, cut
by deep valleys. The key to their
new front was sugar-loafed Mount
Massico near the Tyrrhenian. On
the sides of the mountain the Nazis
were dug in with liberal gun en-
placements.
Fresh advances placed the Amer
lean forces II miles north of the
overrun Volturno River line. Off
cial reports to headquarters said
Marshal Albert Kesselring's seven
NaZl divisions were engaged in an
orgy OF destructive fury against the
Italians, shooting civilians, destroy
ing railways and roads and even
burning haystacks to provide a
smoke screen to cover their retreat.
German Flank Turned.
The main power of the 5th Army
drive had been thrust north and
northeast Of Capua and this turned
the German flank and forced the
retreat. Reinforcements streamed
to the 5th Army and new crossings
were established over the Volturno,
the Allied communique said The
tired Germans hurled furious coun-
terattacks against both the 5th and
9th Armies, but these were absorbed.
Allied planes pounded the Ger
mans a short way behind their lines.
Farther behind the lines, the bomb
ers knocked out dozens of grounded
north of Rome. and at Tarquina.
Fifty vehicles were bombed near the
west coast between Formia and
Minturo.
Medium bombers attacked Frost
none, Terracina and Bojano just be-
hind the Nazi lines on the 5th Army
front.
No losses were sustained by our
planes in the operations and one of
six enemy aircraft encountered was
destroyed.
Cos Airfield Attacked.
A Middle East communique. dis
closing widespread aerial operations
yesterday and Sunday, told of at
tacks on Antimachia airfeld on Cos.
Herakleion on Crete. harbor install
lations at Skyros and an enemy
convoy off the north coast of Crete.
One Allied plane was lost in these
operations.
The raid on Skyros took place in
daylight yesterday and two small
vessels in the harbor were hit.
In the fighting along the Adriatic,
British forces south of the coast.
beat back heavy enemy counter
attack on Montecilfone, occupied
Monday.
Sharp clashes occurred in the area
OF Baranello, 30 miles southwest of
Montecllfone, where the enemy
maSsed large reinforcements to hold