HARD FIGHTING

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

HARD FIGHTING

NEW ZEALANDERS IN ITALY.

STIFF GERMAN DEFENCE MET

SOME POSITIONS PENETRATED. f

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, Dec. 19.

New Zealand troops with the Bth Army in Italy have come up against very stiff German opposition to their attacks against the enemy’s defences in the Orsogna .area: The fighting in this sector is described as particularly fierce, but the New Zealand Division has penetrated some of the German positions.

Both the Bth and sth Armies have made some gains. Along the whole front German resistance is vigorous, and counter-attacks are being launched against the Allies with energy and determination.

To-day’s communique from Allied Headquarters reports stiff fighting on the Bth Army’s front and some advances by the sth Army, which has 'captured a village and taken some commanding heights. The New Zealanders are holding a line just north of Orsogna, reports a correspondent at Allied headquarters in North Africa. He says that German counter-attacks have been particularly fierce against the New Zealanders, who have beaten them all hack with heavy losses, and have captured prisoners. !

In the face of very heavy Gei’man artillery , fire, the New Zealanders made an advance in the outskirts of the town. The indications are that the Germans have moved up crack parachute troops in this part of the battlefield, and are evidently determined to hold on as long as possible. “The New Zealanders have tightened their grip on the Ortona-Or-sogna lateral road,” said the Algiers radio.

“Fierce fighting is continuing on the road. Two German counter-attacks against the Ne Zealand sector were supported by tanks and flamethrowers.”

“Some progress has been made in the centre of the Bth Army’s front,” said the communique from Allied Headquarters yesterday. “A number of enemy tanks were destroyed and many casualties inflicted on the enemy when his counter-attacks were thrown hack.

sth Army’s Gains.

“The Bth Army made some local advances'in the face of determined apposition. Positions previously gained were consolidated and counter-attacks repulsed. A mountain village was taken after hard street fighting.” “The Bth Army is smashing German panzer counter-attacks in grim fighting for'control of the Qrtona-Orsogna-Guadiagrele road, according to reports from headquarters. Allied troops knocked out 13 tanks.

“Small gains, heavy fighting, and bitter resistance, make up the picture of Friday’s fighting on the Bth Army’s front. Two German -tanks were captured intact,” says a correspondent. Allied troops of the sth Army stormed into the village of San Pietro after sweeping down from Mount San Macro, which overlooks the road to Rome, says a report from Allied Headquarters. Later reports say that the sth Army is fighting in the outskirts of San Pietro.

The Germans on the sth Army's front are heavily fortifying the y Ulage of San Vittore, two miles from San Pietro, says Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers.

After bitter fighting the sth Army captured the village of Lagone, situated on a 2000-foot mountain two miles west of Filignano. Reuter’s correspondent says that the Americans are pressing after the German forces which retired from psepared positions in the San Pietro region on Friday. Strong Allied patrols are probing along the mountain sides.

Enemy Force in Italy.

The Germans in the northern sector of the sth Army’s front are hurriedly building belts of pillboxes and strengthening their natural defence positions against an outflanking threat, says Reuter. “The enemy is using an unusual number of automatic weapons to combat the Allied thrusts toward his main defensive line. The Germans seem determined at all costs to hold this powerful stronghold, which guards the way to the west and the Mignano gap. “To the west of San Pietro we oapured a 1000-foot-high feature, Mount Lugo, overlooking the Rome road.

“The Allied tank and infantry assault against San Pietro, in the mountains north of Mignano, began on the morning of December 15. The tanks drove into the heavily-mined town, which the Germans, regardless of their own troops, immediately began to shell.

“General Clark’s forces, in spite of gunfire, mortar-fire, and extreme cold, are continuing to advance and to improve their positions. “ Mount Lugo blocks the road through the Liri Valley to Cassino. American infantry crossed from Mt. Maggiore before dawn on Thursday and attacked in moonlight. They took more than 100 prisoners. Allied patrols discovered that picked German moantain divisions, direct from Russia, are fighting on the sth Army’s front.

More information as to the enemy

forces facing the sth Army is available to Army Headquarters. A correspondent says that live divisions seem to have been taking part in tbe recent action, including two recently arrived from the north of Italy.

About one month ago the 305th Infantry Division came south from the Italian Riviera, followed a week later by a fourth division brought from Slovenia.

2he 29th Panzer Grenadiers, which fought in Sicily and took part in tbe Salerno action, has been out of the lines since, but has now been sent back into action. The 57th Panaer Grenadiers, like the 29th Panzer Grenadiers, are motorised, and also fought in Sicily. Although elements of this regiment fought with the Hermann Goering Division at Salerno, the majority remained to guard beaches in the Naples region, fearing another landing from behind. Later they moved to Caserta, but pulled hack as the Allies advanced. i

The 94th Infantry Division, which was one of the Stalingrad divisions, has been brought down from he area round Genoa.