The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-09-09

6gIClSk1~AIuSSJCdu V11C1lSJVS OF tIlS
war" and that the assault now was
in full swing) Guns, tanks and
other supplies were going ashore
rapidly.
It was said that the Germans
were stiffening their opposition but
that 1t was believed the enemy
would plan to recall troops from the
south toward the northern part Of
Italy, fighting strong rear guard
action enroute. It was suggested
that the Germans will make their
stand In the north because Of the
danger Of being cut OF at many
points If they attempt to defend a
large part OF italy.
(The Scandinavian telegraph
agency reported from Berlin that
the Germans had disarmed the
greater part Of the Italian army"
using force to over come resistance
at some points. The agency said,
however, that bitter fighting be-
tween Italians and Germans was
raging at several undiscloSed
points.)
IL DIVISIONS
In London informed military OBJ.
servers estimated the Germans had
about 10 divisions or 100000 men,
including some panzer units. In
Italy. But about half Of that force
was said to be in the Pc Valley
In northern Italy, with the rest
spread thialy through the PENN.
sula. The Germans probably had
fewer than three divisions or some
10000 men In the area south at
Naples but these are now In danger
OF being cut OF as the Allies land
along the coast and smash italian
rail- lines to the north.
British sources suggested that
the first big German stand would
be made north Of Leghorn.)
In the south Of Italy the 9th arrov
forces under Gen. Sir Bernard q.
montgomery pincned off the Gala
brian toenau and seized an area OF
about 300 square miles, meeting
comparatively Light opposition. It
was believed, however, that the
fighting around Naples would be
much harder.
Operations are proceeding sat-
isfactorily," Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover, supreme Allied Commander,
announced In q communique.
Big Guns Cover
Covered by the big guns Of the
United States and British Nayies.
the Allies pushed onto beaches be-
low Naples in assault boats, pre-
sumably hundreds strong, about 4
q. m. Go p. m. Wednesday EWT) q
little more than nine hours after
the Italian government under Mar
shall Pietro Badoglio surrendered
Internationally to the Allies.
Our forces are In contact with
German forces and prisoners have
been taken" the communicate said
The Decentralization Of troops with
their guns, vehicles, stores and
equipment is proceeding according
to plan"
The landing forces are under the
command Of Lieut.. Gen. Mark
Clark, recently commander Of the
U. 8. Fifth Army, the con1munique
added, but It did not say whether
the American troops engaged were
the Fifth Army, Seventh Army or
some new unit.
AL ground forces In Italy. includ-
ing both the new landing detach.
ments and the British eighth army
fighting It's way up the toe of the
Italian boot, were said to be under
| the command of Gen. Sir Harold
r. L. G. Alexander, chief OF ground
forces in the Mediterranean under
the supreme command Of Gen. Eli
senhower.
Sth Army Advance
The Eighth Army advanced its
line another Is miles up the italian
toe early yesterday with q landing
IN the enemys rear at Who Valen-
tia on the Gulf Of Eufemia, a sec
ond communique reported.
Only light opposition, presumably
from German rear guards. was en-
countered and prisoners were taken.
the communique said. The landing
craft drove ashore with the support
Of British warships.
The lateral road 70 Gioia Tauro.
Is miles to the south. where the
main British and Canadian invaders
last were reported. Is In Allied
hands. the communique reported.
Allied air fleets intensified their
Furnishing raids on bridges. roads
and railway yards on the CalabFian
Peninsula IN an effort TO cut of
the retreating Germans from all
reinforcements and supplies and
leave them ct the mercy Of the
eighth army. Thirty.three enemy
planes were shot down against Q
loss Of only six Allied planes.
But the main interest already had
shifted 10 the Naples area, ITS miles
10 the north. where the new Angle
American landing carried . polen-
tiai threat Of cutting Italy IN two.
lRepogss reaching Bern, eWitser-
land. and Stockholm said strong
Allied forces also landed at civltas
veechia, 80 miles northwest o.
Rene; Leghorn. go miles northwest
Of Rome; Pisa. II miles farther
north; Genoa. Italyb second port On
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