CANADIAN ‘PUNCH’

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 60, 20 December 1943, Page 3

CANADIAN ‘PUNCH’

TANKS PIERCE ENEMY LINE.

GERMANS BADLY SHAKEN

NEW ZEALANDERS AT ORSOGNA

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19. German troops came out waving the White flag while others who broke and ran for it were mown' down when Canadian tanks pierced the enemy line just west of Ortona to-day, states a correspondent with the Btli Army. The tanks were supporting infantry that punched into the German positions following an artillery “stonk,” in which many thousands of shells were rained on a limited section of the front within a few minutes. “Tanks and infantry, under a creeping barrage, were able to get right into the German positions and many enemy troops climbed from foxholes, unable to put up any !flgnt, so badly were they shaken,’* said the correspondent. “It was the heaviest barrage the Canadians have ever put down. It began at 8 a..m. and was concentrated on a narrow strip of ground north of the point where the lateral road from Orsogna joins the main coastal road. Twenty-five pounders and mediums sent shells screaming over at a total rate of 1000 a minute, and the great cloud of smoke that rose cduld be seen many miles back. “After 20 minutes tanks and infantry began to move forward, keeping close to the barrage, and were quickly on top of the German positions.

“Parachutists the Germans had rushed into the line to replace the battered ‘9oth Light,’ and who are noted for their toughness, were holding the positions, but there was nothing tough about them this morning. As our tanks broke right into their positions some of the enemy came out dazed, surrendering to infantry which was un with the tanks. Others tried to put up a fight, but stood little chance. The colonel of one tank'regiment sent back a wireless signal, ‘Have contacted the enemy; having a field day.’

“The Germans’ guns endeavoured to come to the rescue of the parachutists by shelling our tanks and infantry, but they were quickly engaged by guns and by fighter-bombers circling above, hungrily awaiting any target. “Within a couple of hours our forces had complete command of the posh tions and had taken quite a large bag of prisoners and had killed a number of Germans.

“While the prisoners were being shepherded back the tanks and infam try began exploiting further forward. The Indians to-day also made further* progress through the hills.

“The New Zealanders have reached the outskirts of Orsogna, inside which the. enemy still appears to have a number of troops, although he has set fire to some buildings of the town and has carried out demolitions.”

There are indications that the enemy is softening on the sth Army front and the- present progress shows that where the Germans made withdrawals they have done so hurriedly without any planned scheme. The Germans have been using more fighters in recent actions. German snipers have also been active, staying on behind the main retreat to play a desperate, often suicide, role in the wooded mountain slopes. British Official Wireless.