The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-10-01
The W0rOn
MonIy Fronts:

An onlcial communicate said the
city, Italy's third largest center and
second port. was reported clear Of
Germans.
Scared by German-set fires and
explosions, and Its harbor blocked
by enemy destruction, Naples was
the biggest prize to fall to Allied
forces since they leaped from Sicily
to the mainland.
A quick rush was expected to fol-
low toward Rome, with the Allied
troops endeavoring to keep the Ger
mans OF balance during q batter
ing drive for the Italian capital.
The Allies also were expected To
turn Naples into q massive base for
future European operations. Reports
indicated the harbor could be clear
ed quickly. Axis radio broadcasts
before the ofhcial announcement OF
the entry into Naples had said that
Field Marshal Albert Kesserlings
German troops already had aban-
doned the city.
But Allied reports showed the
Germans had done everything pos
sible to stall inevitable capture Of
the city, tearing up roads and min
ing the routes Of entry. General
Dwight D. Eisenhower's communi-
que said progress was good despite
the enemy's efforts.
Annunxlatia Fell
Tore Annundtia, II miles from
Naples on the coastal road, fell after
a street fight. Avellino, on the east
ern flank to the city ~ miles away,
also was captured, posing O threat
to the German flank as It draws
back toward defense lines in the d.
rection Of Rome.
On the eastern side of the Ital-
ian Peninsula the British Eighth
Army moved up according to plan"
continuing a drive that appeared
calculated to have the Germans of
balance on that side by the time
they are forced to stand and fight
again.
All reports indicated the enemy
retreat was an orderly one, based
on q careful plan. The Germans
evidently had plotted carefully their
delaying tactics since 1t took "a
hours Of artillery barrages and
street fighting to reduce Tore
Annunzitia, the last major holding
point.
The enemy's luck with similar
delaying tactics northward was
doubtful. The italian armistice
premier, Marshal Pietro Badoglio
had a De Facto government func-
tioning and his forces were aiding
the Allies. Madrid reports described
violent outbreaks in Florence in
recent days.
Red Armies Drive
On the Russian front, Red Armies
plodded across White Russia's wood
ed plains In o drive that carried
some Soviet units within 100 miles
OF the old Polish border.
The most important immediahe
threat to Hitler's lines was In
the Vittebsk Gomel sector. The
latter center, hinge Of the south
eastern White Russia defenses and
last strong German-held base in
that republic east Of the Dnieper,
already was threatened by Russian
columns on three sides. German
counter-aatacks were smashed.
TO the south in the Ukraine the
Russians were believed to be haul
ing up their artillery batteries TO
blast out Dnieper river crossings.
Plans for the long-expected Al
lied invasion Of the Balkans an.
peared to have been finally fixed.
King Peter Of Jugoslavia, who was
IN Cairo waiting TO accompany arm
les back to his homeland. said
off," ' -"'
Partisan troops under Gen. Josip
CIito) Brozovich were reported in
losing battle against the Germans
at Susak. not far from Plume, which
the irregulars were believed to be
holding. Reports to Jugoslav exile
sources IN London said, however,
that the partisans fighting at the
border OF Northeastern Italy and
Jugoslavia held most Of the istrian
PENINSULA while troops sent across
the old Austrian Jugoslavian border
were being reinforced.
Finschnafen
IN the Pacific, Australian troons
were reported officially today b
have completed enlightenment of the
japanese base at Finschhafen. New
Guinea, and O South Pacific dis.
patcn nlnted the enemy may be
trying to abandon his isolated
stronghold on Kolombangara In the
central Solomons.
A dispatch from South Pacific
headquarters said observers there
were specializing on the possibility
the Japanese hao given up hone OF
holding Villa, on Kolombangara iust
north OF New Georgia, in the face
OF continuous air attack and ar
tillery Smelling from nearby Amer
lean positions.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur's COM
munique said the Australian troops
at F1nschhafen were driving the en-
envy garrison back against the sea
after selling a dominating height
and sealing of the southwark ap-
proaches.
Other Australian forces extended
their holdings In the Markham val
ley area by advancing IA miles be-
yond Kiaipit in an apparent move
aimed eventually at the enemy base
at Madang, above Finschhafen.
In the Solomons, American Lib
orators and escorting fighters shot
down IL out Of a force Of IS en-
envy fighters that tried futilely to
stop bombing raid on Kahili air.
drome, on Bougainville island.