Closing the Ring (21 page)

General Alexander to Prime Minister (at sea)

18 Sept. 43

The general situation continues to improve, and the initiative is passing to us. There have been several strongish attacks against Xth British Corps in north, but all these have been repulsed. On VIth Corps front Americans are on offensive, and fighting is still going on in Altavilla. As you know, Fifth Army and Eighth Army patrols have joined hands. The 7th Armoured Division are getting ashore well; 1500 infantry reinforcements for Xth Corps arrived last night. American reinforcement of about 1600 due to arrive in a day or two. The 3d United States Division starts disembarking tomorrow evening. The build-up of ammunition and supplies
is satisfactory. Eighth Army are advancing on Aluetta and Potenza, but up to writing I have not received [any] report as to the location of their spearheads. The 1st British Airborne Division, in Taranto area, are active, and have joined hands with the Canadians, but are too weak to do more than harass the Germans. The 78th Infantry Division is due to start unloading at Taranto on September 22, and the 8th Indian Division at Brindisi on September 23. My immediate aim is to build up three strong fighting groups: Fifth United States Army in Salerno area, Eighth Army in centre, British Vth Corps under Eighth Army in Taranto area. From these firm bases we shall advance northward, and I have issued a directive to the following effect: Fifth Army to pivot on hills northwest of Salerno and secure the heights about Avellino. Eighth Army to secure Potenza area. Next objectives will be Fifth Army to secure port of Naples, Eighth Army the airfields in Foggia area. I do not wish to mislead you by being overoptimistic, but I am satisfied that we now have the situation in hand, and will be able to carry out our future operations according to plan.

  As we reached the Clyde, decisive news arrived from Alexander.

General Alexander to Prime Minister

19 Sept. 43

I can say with full confidence that the whole situation has changed in our favour and that the initiative has passed to us. …

I am rejoining my main Headquarters at Syracuse tomorrow.

  On September 21 I sent my congratulations to General Eisenhower, and asked him to convey my compliments to General Clark.

Prime Minister to General Eisenhower (Algiers)

21 Sept. 43

I congratulate you on the victorious landing and deployment northward of our armies. As the Duke of Wellington said of the Battle of Waterloo, “It was a damned close-run thing,” but your policy of running risks has been vindicated. If you think fit, send a message from me on to Clark, who from all I hear has done wonders. We certainly do work together in a way never before seen among allies.

2. It does seem to me most desirable, if you could manage it, to push more French troops into Corsica and to put a substantial
detachment of British or American troops into Sardinia. As we now have good harbours for disembarkation, they need not be combat-loaded, but their presence will animate the Italian troops and the French and local patriots.

3. We are backing you up all we can about working with the Italian Government, and I am pretty sure all will go as you wish it.

4. Field-Marshal Smuts will be in Cairo Monday, September 27, staying with Casey, and will be in your theatre about four days later on his way here. He possesses my entire confidence, and everything can be discussed with him with the utmost freedom. He will stay some months in London, taking up his full duties as a member of the British War Cabinet. He will carry great weight here with public opinion. I shall be grateful if he is treated with the utmost consideration. He is a magnificent man and one of my most cherished friends.

*  *  * *  *

Our six-day voyage would have been less pleasant if I had known what was happening to some of my children. Randolph had been in Malta on a few days’ leave from his Commando in the early days of September. Here he met Brigadier Laycock, who was a great friend of his and mine. Laycock, who knew what was going to happen, said, “There is going to be a show for the Commandos. Would you like to come?” So Randolph went with him, and was closely engaged throughout the battle.

Mary had an adventure of a different kind. The
Renown
was slanting across a fairly rough sea when one of the officers suggested a walk on the quarterdeck. This, as he should have known, was forbidden on account of the zigzags, which made it impossible to calculate how waves would come aboard. Mary was leaning over the taffrail with her companion when the ship changed course. “Oh, look,” she said, “there’s a lovely wave coming towards us!” “Cling on!” cried the officer, who realised the danger. In one second the deluge swept them both head over heels across the deck to the starboard scuppers, and but for the fact that Mary came against an upright of the rails she would have gone overboard. The commander saw what had happened from behind the after-turret, and was about to order
a “Man overboard” buoy to be dropped, when the recovery heel of the ship sent most of the water that had come on board pouring back the other way, and Mary on the return journey managed to clutch the anchor cables. The poor officer went to and fro in the same excursion. They were dragged, dripping, into safety. The officer was much scolded. Mary changed her clothes, and all this was concealed from me until we landed.

Another event of a more agreeable character also occurred in my personal circle. Among the party of a dozen Wrens who had come with us was a most beautiful girl. Leslie Rowan, my private secretary, wooed and won her in these few days at sea. But this was kept hidden from all by the parties concerned. They are now happily married.

On our arrival I received the following:

President Roosevelt to Prime Minister

Delighted you are all safely home, and I hope you had a smooth run. All is quiet here. Congress has been here for a week, and it is still quiet. My best to all three of you.

*  *  * *  *

Once the Battle of Salerno had been won, Naples and the Foggia airfields lay before us. The British Xth Corps, with the United States VIth Corps on their right, drove back the enemy’s rearguards around Vesuvius, marched past the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and entered Naples. An immense effort was now concentrated upon opening the harbour, which had been subjected to every form of destruction at experienced hands. Nevertheless, this work in which the Americans excelled was so effective that within a fortnight five thousand tons of supplies a day could be handled. The two airfields near the city were soon brought into use, and gave welcome relief to our fighter squadrons, hitherto acting from improvised landing-strips. Meanwhile, on the east coast the 1st Airborne Division had patrolled as far as Gioia and Bari by September 15. The 78th Division and an armoured brigade landed behind them, and, with the Vth Corps Headquarters, joined the Eighth Army. Six Royal Air Force squadrons
began to act from the Gioia airfield at the same time. The memy evacuated the Foggia airfields on September 25. Termoli was taken by Commandos landed from the sea, who, with the help of reinforcements, held out against fierce counter-attacks.

*  *  * *  *

A few days after my return I sent General Eisenhower a telegram which should be borne in mind in reading all my messages and memoranda of the autumn and winter. The second paragraph sought to establish the proportion of effort, especially where bottlenecks were concerned, which should be devoted to our various enterprises. These proportions should not be overlooked by those who wish to understand the controversies with which a later chapter deals. War presents the problem of the correct employment of available means, and cannot often be epitomised as “One thing at a time.”

Prime Minister to General Eisenhower (Algiers)

25 Sept. 43

As I have been pressing for action in several directions, I feel I ought to place before you the priorities which I assign in my own mind to these several desirable objectives.

2. Four-fifths of our effort should be the build-up of Italy. One-tenth should be our making sure of Corsica (which will soon finish) and in the Adriatic. The remaining tenth should be concentrated on Rhodes. This of course applies to the limiting factors only. These, I presume, are mainly landing-craft and assault shipping, with light naval craft.

3. I send this as a rough guide to my thought only because I do not want you to feel I am pressing for everything in all directions without understanding how grim are your limitations.

General Eisenhower to Prime Minister

26 Sept. 43

We are examining resources carefully to give Mid-East necessary support in this project, and feel sure that we can meet minimum requirements of Mid-East.

When Montgomery can get the bulk of his forces forward to support the right of the Fifth Army, things will begin to move
more rapidly on the Naples front. As is always the case following the early stages of a combined operation, we have been badly stretched both tactically and administratively. We are working hard to improve the situation and you will have good news before long.

Eisenhower’s answer did not refer as specifically as I had hoped to what I deemed the all-important part of my message, namely, the small proportion of troops required for subsidiary enterprises.

*  *  * *  *

I continued my interchanges with Alexander and Montgomery.

Prime Minister to General Alexander

25 Sept. 43

I quite understand that the Eighth Army has to pull up its tail.

2. I like the idea of an advance on a broad front which the enemy will have difficulty in stemming, but I suppose you will also help yourself forward with minor amphibious scoops.

3. You will see that I have announced in Parliament that the Italian campaign is the “Third Front.” The Second Front is here in Great Britain, in potential but not yet engaged. This form of statement should be adhered to, as it is less disagreeable to the Russians and avoids arguing with them as to whether the Italian campaign is the Second Front or not.

  Naples was entered by the Anglo-American Fifth Army on October 1.

Prime Minister to General Eisenhower (Algiers)

2 Oct. 43

I rejoice with you at the brilliant turn our affairs in the Mediterranean have taken, and that Sardinia and Corsica have fallen as mere incidents in the campaign. Every good wish for the future.

Prime Minister to General Alexander (Italy)

2 Oct. 43

I consider that the advance of the Eighth Army on the eastern flank is of enormous value.

I note that Montgomery will soon have to halt to bring up supplies, but I trust this does not mean that his patrols and light
forces will not keep in touch with the enemy’s rearguards. Everything in our Intelligence goes to show that the enemy’s object is to gain time and retire northward without serious losses. He has not in any case the strength to make a front against the forces you are now deploying. I consider that this favourable position is due to your master-stroke in seizing Taranto, with its unequalled harbour facilities, and beg you to accept my most sincere compliments upon it.

I have studied the plan you have sent home by your officer, and note that you have already accomplished the first and second phases of it. I hope the third phase will be accomplished by the end of the month or thereabouts, and that we shall meet in Rome.

General Alexander to Prime Minister

3 Oct. 43

I am most grateful for your kind message, and I appreciate your praise so much. … Once I can get the Royal Air Force properly established and our administrative set-up working as it should, then all will be straight sailing.

I have now established my Headquarters at Bari, where I am near the battle-front and within easy reach of my two Army Commanders and my main bases. Air Marshal Coningham is of course with me.

To sum up, all will be well, and the Germans will be harassed and continuous pressure applied to his rearguards all the time by light mobile forces and air forces when we cannot reach him with our main bodies.

Prime Minister to General Montgomery (Italy)

2 Oct. 43

I am delighted to see the Eighth Army striding on so splendidly. Many congratulations on all you have done. I dare say you remember what I said to you that day in Tripoli about where we might meet.

General Montgomery to Prime Minister

5 Oct. 43

Thank you for your kind message. We have advanced a long way and very quickly. It had to be done in order to come to the help of Fifth Army, but it has been a very great strain on my administration, which had to be switched from the toe to the heel during the operations and which is now stretched to the limit. When I have got the lateral Termoli-Campobasso I will have to
halt my main bodies for a short period and operate in advance of that lateral only with light forces while I get my administration on a sound basis during the period of the halt. But light forces directed in sensitive areas can be very effective, and by this means I will retain the initiative and gain ground. After the halt I will advance with my whole strength on Pescara and Ancona. I shall look forward to meeting you in Rome.

*  *  * *  *

A pause was now enforced upon both our armies. North of Naples the Fifth Army met strong resistance along the river Volturno, which needed time and supplies to overcome. In the Eighth Army’s advance up the toe of Italy, General Montgomery had deliberately taken every administrative risk in order to reach the Salerno battlefield. His base had now to be moved from the toe at Reggio to the heel at Taranto and Bari. Until this was accomplished, the Eighth Army had reached the end of its tether. Moreover, the capture of Foggia enabled a start to be made in occupying its airfields with heavy bombers. This was a massive task requiring the carriage of many thousand tons of stores and could be effected only by degrees. In mid-October the Germans had nineteen divisions in Italy, and the Allies the equivalent of eleven. Large reinforcements and much consolidation were required to hold our rapid and brilliant conquests. All this put a strain on our shipping.