Evening star., 1943-10-07

AMERICAN CASUALTIES in 5th
Army total 1907, Stimson says.
Page AS
B. the Associated dITeSs.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS,
AlgierS, Oct. THE battle for
Rome has begun with the Ger
mans launching powerful in
fantry and armored attacks in
the Termoli area along the
Adriatic where the British 9Th
Army of Gen. Sir Bernard L.
Montgomery stands l30 miles
east and slightly north of the
capital city.
Official announcements at Al
lied headquarters today said the
Germans had shifted an entire
armored division from the west side
of the peninsula and thrown it into
an onslaught against Gen. Mont
eomerys forces.
Gen. MontgOmelY'S troops also
have been reinforced for the show
down fight and have beaten of the
attacks, Gen. Dwight D EiSenhow-
ers communique announced
TWO British destroyers brought
naval artillery to the aid of the
British. driving boldly into the mar
row Adriatic and pounding railway
and enemy military targets to the
northwest of Termol, counterinc
and dlSloCating the German attack
Just AS naval forces were used to as
sist in the offensive against Naples.
Nazis Fortifying Nolturno.
While fresh German tank units
fastened to oppose the 9Th Armys
fanking threat. the Germans rushed
the task Of fortifylnc the Volturno
River 20 miles north Of Naples
against 1t. Gen Marx w. Clark's
American 5th Army. which reportec.
dogged progress northward despite
extensive demolitions and heavy
rains which impeded the movement
of heavy equipment.
Further informa ton from the
front said the crossing of the Vol
turno by 5th Army clements, which
was reported yesterday was only
along the main tributary of the VOL
turno system. commonly known as
the Galore.
The German defcnSes on the
north bank of the Volturno itself
across the plain from the mountains
to the Tyrrhenian SEA still are in
tact. 1t was stated here.
Although the crossing Of the Ca
lore, an eastward extension of the
Volturno. constituted fanklne
threat to the enemy river line,
military spokesman said the Ger
mans were believed to he holding
the northern bank of the Volturno
IN some strength
Further Progress Reported.
The headquarters communique
said merely that the 5th Army has
made further progress and are
working forward to the line of the
River Volturno.'
Radio France at AlGierS in a
broadcast recorded by Reuters.
declared the 5th Army is now
only 3 miles from Capua. one of
the most important centers of
enemy resistance on the road to
Rome
(The British radio said Capua.
on the VolturnO directly north of
L.,
lerv range.
The German COmmuniQue said
that repeated enemy infantry
and tank attacks" were repulsed
At the Volturno and that EN-
hlttered fighting" was continuing
in the Termoli area. II admit
ted a retreat in the southern
Apennines," however,
Fighting strategic battle for
The benefit of both Gen Clark and
Gen. Montgomery, Flying Fortresses
meanwhile few a 1,200-mile round
trip from Africa to Shatter the main
rail junction in the Venice area.
Rail Yards Bombed
ilbC lolI bdI SllppS, tllSlIlP
sheds and chemical works at this
junction. MeStre. were blanketed by
bombs despite the interference of 20
to 30 enemy fighters which gave
battle for 25 minutes.
Many of the enemy fighters we're
shot down. Mestre is on the Italian
mainland where the rail causeway
from Venice joins the main coastal
line and is an important link in the
communications with Yugoslavia
and Austria.
In between the drive from Naples
and the battle along the Adriatic.
American units continued to meet
stlffening German resistance in the
mountains north and northeast of
Benevento, where the Germans were
able to control all avenues of retreat
with comparatively few troops
All the German divisions fighting
here, as well as along the Volturno
and above Termoli were disclosed to
Ir @f ~ !,