A FEW SORTIES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 32, 17 November 1943, Page 3

A FEW SORTIES

ACROSS THE RIVER SANGRO.

AIR ATTACKS ON GREECE,

LITTLE ACTIVITY IN ITALY.

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.50 a.m.) ' LONDON, Nov. 16

Persistent bad weather on both fronts limited the actions of the armies yesterday, states a correspondent at Allied headquarters. Eighth Army patrols made a few sorties across the river Sangro against enemy elements near Monrazooli, four miles- east of Sangro, at a place roughly 20 miles from its estuary.

The sth Army continued its active defence and two counter-at-tacks by the enemy were repulsed, but one feature hill on Mont Crote, north of Venture, was yielded.

A land communique issued in North Africa says: “Bad weather limited the scope of operations by both the sth and the Bth Armies.”

An air communique says: “On Monday an attack was made on Eleusis airfield (Athens) by heavy bombers of the North-west African Air Force, escorted by long-range fighters. Medium hombers, also escorted by longrange fighters, attacked Kalamaki airfield (Athens). Both targets were covered by bomb straddles. Operations by fighters were limited by the weather. Transport was attacked in the battle area. A number of trucks were destroyed near Ancina. Two of our aircraft are missing.”

The Algiers radio states that the Bth Army occupied high ground north of Atessa while on the sth Army front our troops were forced to yield a hill north of Venafro. ® Mitchells found the weather over Italy too thick yesterday, but went across to Greece to attack Kalamaki aerodrome, a big air base just outside Athens.—British Official Wireless.

SCORCHED EARTH IN ITALY. GERMANS DESTROYING VILLAGES LONDON, November 16. Allied correspondents in Italy report that the Germans are carrying out a violent scorched-earth policy. Reuter’s correspondent with the Sth Army says: “Night after night the sky over the mountains behind the enemy lines is lit by a red glow. The Germans are setting fire to villages, from which they are removing everything of value and destroying every house in which British troops might possibly be billeted. They have already driven every inhabitant, from the oldest woman to the youngest child, from seven villages. i “The Germans are destroying all facilities in the harbour of Pescaro and Ortona, and have also blown up all bridges over the Sangro River.” Axis reports claim that Allies warships and transports are concentrating off Naples in preparation for a new landing behind the German positions on the west coast of Italy. They also forecast a new Sth Army offensive.”