Evening star., 1943-11-08
5th Army Advance
Threatens New
Mountain Line
By the Associated Press.

.
Algiers, Nov. 8.-Repeated ex-
ploslons in Gaeta indicated the
Germans were preparing to
abandon that port 70 miles south
OF Rome as Allied headquarters
announced today another short
gain by Americans of the 5th
Army in a push which threatened
to short circuit the coastal
mountains where the enemy had
anchored a new defense line.
The British 9th Army, sweeping
i've miles ahead along the Adriatic
coast against fierce resistance. took
possession of the entire length of
the Smello River and advanced on
the Sangro River, the next natural
barrier in the area
Capturing Scerni. Casalbordino
and Carunchlo, Gissi and Salcito,
Gen Sir Bernard L. Montgomery
veteran outfits took over the entire
stretch of lateral road running in
land from VaSto and at some places
were within seven miles of the
Sangro where the Germans appar-
emily were preparing a new stand.
In the central portion of the 5th
Armys front, 1t. Gen. Mark w
Clarks Americans drove ahead over
the toughest country of the whole
Allied line to achieve a gain of one
mile and capture Calabritto.
Gains Beyond Isernia.
Gains of several miles also we're
road from Foggia to Rome across
the Abruzzl Mountains.
This first anniversary of the
Allied landings in French North
Africa found the Allies delivering
stronger blows than ever to the
Germans along Europes southern
front and the enemy displaying
more weaknesses than ever
The German desperation over in
ability to hold back the unspectacu-
lar but relentless tide was reflected
not only in the rush to dismantle
the port of Gaeta. but also, officers
here believe, in the bombings of
Vatican City on Friday night-an
act which Allied headquarters en-
phatically disavoWed.
The view here was that this
bombing, which the German radio /
loudly blamed on the Allies, and
hysterical appeals of the German
broadcasts we're an effort to bolster
home morale
Gaeta is the best port on the
Tyrrhenian Sea between Naples and
Civitavecchia, 40 miles north of
Rome, and its harbor would be of
great use to the Allies in getting
supplies in for the battle of Rome
Americans Already Hold Heights.
Already the Americans had seized
the heights dominating Mignano,
opening the way for a push behind
the Aurunci Mountains which are
the chief protection of Gaeta and
Formia on the coastal route 10
Rome, the Appian Way. The route
for this prospective thrust lies up
the broad valley to Casino along
the Via Casilina. the main inland
route to Rome
An Algiers broadcast by Radio
France said the 5th Army already
had captured Mignano, "a miles
northeast of Gaeta, and had ad-
xanced 10 miles north of Vena-
fro, gain which would place
the 5th Army to the northeast
Of Casino in a position to flank
that town.
With the Germans apparently re-
signed to the loss of Gaeta the bat
tie along Italy's west coast promised
to be carried soon into the Pontine
marshes where the fiat land criss-
crossed by canals will permit the
Germans to make further delaying
standings.
Destroyers Bombed Durazzo
Meanwhile, Allied Headquarters
announced the bombardment of
Durazzo, Albanian port near Tirana,
the capital, by two destroyers which
carried the sea war to the Germans
In the Balkans
The gains on the 5th Army front
were made in the face of repeated
attacks by the Germans who had
increased their force to nine divi-
sions, or approximately $4,000 men.
In the front Italian line.
Gen. Montgomery Army also en-
countered several German attacks.
'See ITALY, Page Ala