Mediterranean Algiers Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 18, 1943, Algiers, Algiers                                Russians Clear Kuban of nazis and smash on caucasus oilfields made secure from German forces in a week of smashing russian victories on the Long summer front German dreams of filling their tanks and planes with caucasus Oil Oil essential to German plans for world Power a were completely shattered thursday when soviet forces pushed the wehrmacht from novo Rossik its last stronghold in the Kuban Bridgehead the Entrance to the caucasus. While the nazi divisions retreated from the Kuban to the Crimea the estimated 20 divisions holding unsteadily to that Black sea Peninsula could Only number the Days until their main escape route would be Cut. The same soviet forces which drove the germans from Tagan Rog and Mariupol were less than 50 Miles from Melitopol. On the main railway from Svast a pol to Zaporozhye and threatened to sever the line within a few Days. Rich in Oil the caucasus sometimes called the Birthplace of the modern european races is the wide strip of land Between the Black and Caspian seas. Its oilfields especially around Baku 700 Miles Southeast of novo Rossik on the Caspian sea Are among the richest in the world and were apparently the ultimate target of the German pincer drives in the Southern Ukraine and in the libyan desert last year. The germans were never Able to reach the Rich prize that dangled before them although they captured novo Rossik 203 Miles Southwest of Rostov a year ago and penetrated the caucasus for about too Miles. Control of novo Rossik gives the soviets the second most important military port on the Black sea German held Sevastopol in the Crimea is the first and constitutes a Distant threat to the already perilous German position in the Crimea and the narrow kerch Peninsula that extends from the Kuban. Gun Salute the surprising offensive in the Kuban however was Only one of three important soviet victories during the week which Moscow recognized with a the Al of 12 salvos from 372 guns. On the night that novo Rossik fell. Marshal Joseph Stalin ordered salutes of 124 guns each for the soviet armies which swept into the Black sea port and continued on Page 2 a a a ,. A.   Allied armies Junction near 5th tightens Salerno beachhead it it _ tide of Battle shifts St s Advance elements meet Clark s patrols Here to stay Clark declares troops prove it Allied Force Headquarters sept. 17-patrols of the 5th army fighting in the Salerno area South of Naples made Contact yesterday with Advance elements of the 8th army pushing up from the South and in that Junction of arms was a Welcome sign that the tide of Battle in Southern Italy had at last turned against the German wehrmacht. After ten Days of heavy drama packed combat in which matters were touch and go the Salerno Bridgehead was secure and the coastline All the Way from the toe of Italy to some 23 Miles South of Naples a total distance of some 200 Miles a was in Allied hands. In the words of it. Gen. Mark w. Clark the 5th army s com Smander As expressed in a special order of the Day Quot we Are Here to stay. Not one foot of ground will be Given up. Side by Side with the 8th army the 5th army will Advance to occupy Naples Rome and other i cities to the North and to free Italy from German  j All was certainly not Over  the nazis threw at the i allies three of their heaviest coun by a sgt. Dave Golding j Ter attacks to Date. But the 5th stars and strips staff writer army troops remembering the with the to to a Rev to words of their commander Sav thai v apply smashed each German n or i j0 i thrust and then pushed up ahead Firrah �6 i to retake the town of albanello. Fighting much harder than any before the Day was Over Allied one anticipated the first Ameri troops had captured the High can Bridgehead on the German ground South of the Colore River held Mainland of Hitler s festing had wiped out five More tanks Europa was secure. And had captured a Large number probably much More significant of German prisoners including a was the fact that the allies had Batt alien commander succeeded in launching an Amphi-1 this was the first Sharp crack Bious operation of tremendous in the German line. From the proportions and Landing american very first the germans had had and British troops on the coastal every military advantage. They had Plain of Salerno Bay. Guessed where we were Likely to the first phase of the operation attack they had Complete control of ended this week with the Ameri a in High ground overlooking the cans consolidating their positions beaches their big guns and their and reorganizing their forces who heavy artillery were firmly in have been in action in the narrow touched carefully positioned their front lines since the momentous tanks and troops were All set to a hour. It was obvious that the Snake at the first sign of a land situation was Well in hand. Loki and they knew we were Corn in the High Hills commanding in8-the coastal Plain from Salerno the first doubtful Days the Days South to agro poli it was revealed of the Skinny stretched out Beach continued from Page 2 1 continued on Page 8 front nows Sobers 4,000 sortie Blase Washington by Naaf ease task of army by to sgt. John Willig stars and stripes staff writer Washington sept. 17�?news floor of Congress plenty pooped Allied Force head Quad paper accounts of the Battle of during the week in the committee hers sept. 17�?bombers of the Salerno and headlines Reading rooms and corridors of the Capitol Northwest african air forces yesterday switched their attacks from the battlegrounds of Salerno to yanks withstand nazi assaults a where so much of the nations bus coupled with German claims of iness is apparently decided. One of heavy american casualties have the hottest issues being threshed communications near Naples the had a sobering effect on even the out was the manpower question switch followed two Days of Bat most Blase capital residents and currently americas biggest head tearing the enemy South of Salerno have tended to wipe out for the aches and the related question of in one of the greatest most effect moment most Victory by Christ sex servicemen. I Uve ground support in to talk. J the latest Bill for servicemen history of air warfare. Within 48 people Here seemed to regard was introduced by sen. Pat my hours the Naaf flew More than Salerno As the first real test of Carrot of Nevada and would per i a too sortie american troops against the Ger Mit any Veteran of the present j  Hail in mans and. Mentally have been i War to borrow within six months 1 xxx nne a fighting the Battle along with j after his discharge up to 1,000 a amps the 5th army was it them the War news from Italy j dollars to  debts owed at the i cred As a Wim by term our veaninroftorneres0s recon time of his release from the army forces were Sald nov a the veiling of Congress. Or Navy. The Money would be pro Humn a por their Nart in Hrin in the occasion in itself was Dis video at no Security other than the about that dramatic Chance the appointing if. Like most spectators veterans statement of debts and Fher in the House and Senate galleries could be repaid Over a period of pc by pm ended their efficient three years with the first payment we Lutted sup it of the it amp afr the Day of a a Ces pulsed. Calls which were answered by Only j if passed the Bill would provide a1so notably changed from the a few More than half the Mem j a Cushion for Many men who were 1 first of the week was the picture be ship. For the rest there was buying a House a car or some such of German air strength Over the Only a great Deal of handshaking item on the instalment plan when Battle areas at the end of the Al Well wishing and uninspiring they entered the armed service bed assault by air. As Many As  i although a collectable during the 20 enemy aircraft were seen in a but if nothing happened on Hie continued on Page 8 i continued on Page 2j  of Muff off yet Vyff fyn flashes from the italian front lines  with american forces near Salerno for one hour shortly after the first Allied landings near Naples sgt. John w. Leonard a Farmer from Jefferson Ohio made himself at Home in the barnyard of a deserted farm House surrounded by an excited squad of chickens cows and pigs. The owner had apparently fled in a hurry following a clash of Allied and German artillery Over his head leaving the animals to fend for themselves. Sgt. Leonard who was held up at the farmhouse when his tank got wedged in a deep Gully enlisted the help of Crew member Cpl. Raymond Christy of St. Joseph ore., to feed the barnyard Stock. They completed their chores just before the maintenance tank arrived to haul their tank out of the ditch. A a a i to most mortals Quot Pisano is just a Black Puppy with a furious wag to his Tail but to sgt. Emil Thomas of Pottsville pa., a Driver at 5th army Headquarters a Pisano is both an air raid Alert and a magnetic Compass. When sgt. Thomas went to sleep somewhere on the Allied beachhead the Pup curled up beside him. That night a German bomber circled overhead and awoke a a Pisan a who in turn roused sgt. Thomas and then made a beeline for a deep Slit Trench the germans had built Only a few nights before. Sgt. Thomas and the Pup were both in the Trench before the bomb landed less than too Yards away. Next morning for breakfast a a Pisano received a dish of condensed milk with his a rations. A a a the old Story about one yank with his Dukes up being Able to take care of a battalion of the enemy crops up in every Campaign. In its latest version the Story pays tribute to an unnamed texan who was caught in the Middle of a tank Battle near the Beach at Salerno in which Jerry lost seven tanks to our none. The texan was caught in the Center of the Road hugging the ground when one German continued on Page 2