Evening star., 1943-10-18
5th Army Occupies ; More Towns
In Fierce Battle Above Vo|turno;
British Press Westward Advance
Fires at Rear Hint
German Plan for
General Retreat

BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Al
gierS, Oct. 18.-Lt. Gen. Mark w.
Clark's 5th Army in slashing
give-and-take battle has driven
beyond the Volturno River and
firmly occupied" the towns of
Cancello, Ruviano and Nerrone
British 9th Army patrols are
stabblng westward into the
Apennine backbone towar
Rome, Allied headquarters an
nounced today.
Important new Allied landings of
men and material in recent days
have been made on the Italian
mainland, it was disclosed.
From both the 5th and 9th Army
fronts came reports of numerous
fires in the enemy rear areas. This
pointed to the possibility that the
Germans were destroying supply
dumps preparatory to a general
withdrawal, although there was
nothing else to indicate that further
Allied advances toward the Italian
capital from any direction would
be made except in the face of the
most stubborn opposition.
Gen. Clark'S American veterans of
Salerno captured the towns of Ner-
rome and Ruviano in the high
ground dominating the surrounding
lowlandS after fierce "merry-go-
round fighting in which strong for
nations from each side repeatedly
stabbed deep into the opposing lines.
creating a fluid situation over an
area or 6 miles deep in which
units frequently became isolated.
British Occupy Cancello.
British troops occupied Cancello,
former important Axis air base 8
miles inland and on the north bank
of the Volturno. after beating back
massive German counterattack in
the course of an advance from the
sea.
1t was in that sector that British
amphibious forces had landed along
the Gulf of Gaeta to flank the
German anchor at the mouth of the
Volturno.
The American troops beat off
three strong German counterthrusts
before battling their way into Ner-
rome, a startegic mountain strong
hold 3 miles north of the river ard
% miles inland
Ruviano, another valuable posi-
ton in high ground in the strategic
elbow Of the Volturno where it turns
northWard, cemented Allied control
of an area where the Allies already
had seized Caiazzo and Amorosi on
opposite sides of the river. 1t also
was captured after a sharp en-
gagement.
Fighting Rages in Streets.
On the 9th Army front fighting
ragged in the streets of Montecilfone
when British patrols entered and
found it heavily garrisoned by Ger
mans. The British patrols broke
through toward the main German
lines only after a violent encounter.
Montecilfone is 10 miles southwest
of Termoli on the Adratic coast
end four miles west of Guglionesi,
the last reported limit of the Brit
ish advance in that sector.
An allied communique said the
9Th Army patrols were maintaining
contact with the enemy in the drive
west of the Termoli- -Vinchiaturo
road. and field reports said enemy
resistance was increasing in inten-
sity all along that front.
Particularly heavy fighting also
appeared to be ahead for Gen.
Clark's British divisions in their
offensive northward of the Lower
Volturno.
The Germans were firmly en-
trenched on the MasSico ridge tow
ering $500 feet above the river valley
and extending from the beaches to
the northeast toward Carinola.
Command Wide Area.
From 1t heavy guns commanded a
wide area and a series of heavy
counterattacks already launched
from that higher stronghold were
evidence enough that the enemy
would yield it only after a bitter
struggle.
Seven miles beyond the ridge lies
the Garigliano River, more than
half way from the Volturno to the
important port of Gaeta, the anchor
of a rugged trans-peninsular noun
tain line extending to Pescara on the
Adrlatic along which the Germans
may plan another stand.
(Today's German communiuue
(See ITALY, Page Alb