BRIDGEHEAD LARGER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 90, 26 January 1944, Page 3

BRIDGEHEAD LARGER.

ALLIES 12 MILES INLAND. LITTLE OPPOSITION SO FAR. LONDON, January 25. It is officially announced at Allied Headquarters in North Africa that the Allied forces landed south of Rome have pushed their beachhead at least 12 miles inland and have widened it for several miles north and south of the port of Anzio. Allied advanced patrols ai’e more than 12 miles inland and have reached points a few miles from the Appian Way, the main highway south from Rome.

The Germans are reported to be pulling troops back toward Rome from the southern front. The Americans on this front have recrossed the Rapido River

The Allied communique to-day says: “The beachhead south of Rome has been enlarged and strengthened, and the port of Anzio is in our hands. Allied troops advanced further inland, but they have not yet met formidable enemy opposition. On the southern front the sth Army repelled counterattacks and advanced at two points against determined resistance. Patrols were active yesterday on the Bth Army front.”

Delayed dispatches from correspondents say that on Sunday the Germans launched sharp counter-attacks against the newly-won beachhead with some success. They recaptured two important bridges across a canal, and at one point penetrated about a mile. The enemy had time to damage only one span of one of these bridges before it was regained by the Allies. “The main body of the Allied landing force in the Anzio-Nettuno area (30 miles south of Rome) is advancing eastward toward the Lepini range, 20 miles away,” reported the “ Daily Telegraph’ correspondent in Algiers on Monday. “The range, which is a series of rugged peaks more than 3000 feet high, is on the other side of the Appian Way. “The Allies are obviously trying to cut the main Rome-Cassino road, which is dominated on the western side by the Lepini range. This road is the main escape route northward for the German forces on the Garigliano front, 70 miles to the south.” Reuter’s correspondent with the sth Army said: “Many of the latest batches of prisoners captured in Italy knew before they were captured that the Allies had landed near Rome. They considered this meant that it was all over for the Germans in the south of Italy. More and more prisoners are showing signs of pleasure at being out of the war. Many conscripted Poles asked as soon as they reached the prisoners’ cages to be given British uniforms and arms with which to fight against their former masters in Italy. Civilians frequently hiss and spit at prisoners as they are being marched in. Some Italian women have even asked British guards for permission to enter the cages and cut the prisoners’ throats.”