MASSED ARTILLERY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 170, 30 April 1943, Page 3

MASSED ARTILLERY.

RESISTANCE TO EIGHTH ARMY.

BATTLE FOR MOUNTAIN POSTS.

LONDON, April 29

The correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain Avitli the Bth Army says: “The Germans have massed the heaviest concentrations of artillery they have yet employed outside Russia to prevent an Sth Army break-through from the south. General Montgomery is employing even greater artillery strength. The thunder of guns echoes day and night, hoav that the British troops come up against the enemy’s principal fortified line. “The British artillery lias the advantage in numbers and also in skill in the concentration of fire, but the Germans at the moment have the advantage in range. Enfidavilfc and also Takrouna remain Avithin range of the big German howitzers Avhicli lob 2641 b shells into the British lines. “General von Arnim has also concentrated 1000 infantry along the 18mile front facing General Montgomery. They are avcll entrenched behind minefields. Behind the infantry stand panzers ready to move in any direction Avhere an Allied advance threatens. HoAvever, the enemy’s advantage in terrain is being offset by the Allied air force, Avhieh is dominating the skies to an extent unparalleled in this Avar sinc-e the LuftAvaffe ruled over the battlefields of Greece and Crete.” “The German predilection for heavy long-range artillery is serving them in good stead in their defensive mountain positions,” says the Algiers correspondent of “The Times.” “Our artillery has been magnificent, it is largely a case of blasting a- Avay through, for, as an Bth Army general says, these mountains just savulloav up men. With the enemy dug in in narroAV slit trenches every hill demands a major operation for its capture. “The enemy had foAv guns on the Bth Army front Avhen avo began the attack. Noav lie lias a largo concentration. This is only one indication that he is doing everything possible to hold the Bth Army and thus guard his bridgehead. His forces are fighting harder than anyone connected, with the Bth Army has knoAvn them to fight before.

“The Italians, besides the Germans, arc fighting desperately. Italian piisoners from Takrouna and Jebel Garei are of a type aa'lio not only speak of imperial destiny, but fight Joi it. Moahe avo outnumber the Axis infantry, but bore in the mountain country the defensive role has the advantage over the offensive. Howiwor, although the Ist Army may haA’e the best approach to the enemy’s last ditch, the Bth Army can and will ‘ eat his guts out.’