Evening star., 1943-10-04
Americans Drive for Vo|turno,
Withdrawal of Nazis Indicated:
More British Land in East |toIy
9th Army Beats Off
Counterottocks, Wins
TermoIi Positions
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Al
giers, Oct. 4-The British 9th
Army, with the support of Allied
naval forces which penetrated
the Adriatic, have landed and
clinched positions at Termoli, on
the Adriatic coast so miles north
Of Foggia and almost midway be-
tween the Italian heel and the
mouth of the Po River in North
ern Italy, official front-line dis
patches announced today.
simultaneously, American troops
Of 1t. Gen. Mark w. Clark's 5th
Army have crossed the Galore River
In their advance toward Rome from
Benevento. They have captured an
important crossing of the Galore
River.
Already there was evidence that
the crossing of the Galore was fore
Ing the Germans to withdraw from
the Volturno line, where they might
have hoped to halt their retreat.
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery's
advance up the Adriatic coast
along the historic path of conquerors
toward the Emilian Way, which
leads to the Po Valley-also threat
ened to turn the defenses of Ger
man Marshals Rommel and Kessel-
ring which may be centered about
Rome and the Apennines.
COunterattackSR Reafep OH
His march was advanced greatly
by the leapfrog tactics of amphibi-
Gus counterattacks, took an undis-
closed number of prisoners we'll be-
hind the enemy's rear and then
made a junction with the main body
OF the 9Th Army which continued
to pound up the coast.
Termoll is approximately II miles
north of Gen. Montgomery pre-
vious position at the mouth of the
Fortore River just north of the
spur" of the italian boot.
1t Is a small seaport with 5000 or
5000 inhabitants and is some 10
miles behind the mountainous
ground which breaks in to the coast
to ring the Foggia plain. 1t is about
2l5 miles up the coast from Otranto
on the Italian heel and 100 miles
south of Rimini where the Po plains
begin.
The Galore, which the Americans
reached with the capture of Bene-
vento, flows into the Volturno, which
turns northWard at Amorosi, 26
miles northeast of Naples.
Resistance Stiffening.
Immediately north of Naples 5th
Army patrols with strong British
armor support, stabbed relentlessly
at the retreating Germans and
found enemy resistance stiffening
apparently because the Germans
were intent on slowing down Gen
Clark's advance long enough to
withdraw heavy equipment and sup
plies across the Volturno.
The 5th Army's march also was
impeded greatly by German demo-
lition parties, which were blowing
up every bridge, road junction and
culvert.
With the Americans across the
Galore River and in a position to
strike westward in force, the Ger
mans appeared able only to fight
delaying action along the Volturno
once Gen. Clark's main body reaches
that stream.
While Gen. Montgomerys am
phibious undertaking, a repetition
of the tactics which permitted rapid
advances along both Sicilian coasts.
made spectacular gains, other 9th
Army forces pushed to the north
western edge of the Foggia plain
and occupied the town of Motta, %
miles northwest of Foggia, an Allied
communique announced The COM
munique did not say when the town
was taken
Montemiletto Occupied.
The communique also announced
the occupation of Montemiletto, II
miles southeast of Benevento, on
the flank of the American column
which reached and crossed the
Galore.
Other towns and villages taken
within the Allied line stretching
across Italy included Castelfranco,
20 miles northeast of Benevento;
Ginestra, also northeast of Bene-
(See ITALY, Page A-5D