HINDERED BY RAIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 34, 19 November 1943, Page 3

HINDERED BY RAIN

LAND OPERATIONS IN ITALY.

ALLIES IMPROVE POSITIONS.

COUNTER-ATTACK DESTROYED. 'N.Z Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. IS. A communique issued in Algiers says that heavy rain continues to fall among the majority of the forward areas, and operations of both the sth and Sth Armies are on a. restricted scale. Many rivers are in flood. Enemy counter-attacks against a sector of the Sth Army front were repulsed. Enemy artillery has been active against some sectors of the sth Army front, where positions recently gained were improved. The Algiers radio says that 12 miles inland the Sth Army advanced their positions slightly. Another report says that rain, mud and swollen rivers curtailed the opportunities for the armies in Italy to make any substantial progress. On the Bth Army front north of the river Sangro there was intermittent enemy shelling and at a point 12 miles inland near the region of Atessa enemy manoeuvres for the preparation of a coun-ter-attack were observed and promptly reported. A force of Kittyliawks swept in to strafe the assembled forces in co-operation with British infantry fire and the German counterattack was destroyed before it was launched.

On the sth Army Front there was heavy shelling in the Venafro area on Wednesday night and to-day and an attempt was made by the Germans to run small boats up the Garigliano River some distance inland. The boats were fired on by our troops.—British Official Wireless.