DIVISION ATTACKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 154, 12 April 1945, Page 5

DIVISION ATTACKS

GREATEST ASSAULT IN ITALY. GOOD ADVANCE REPORTED INTENSIVE PREPARATION. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) BEYOND SENIO, April 10. A veil of secrecy which for six weeks has shrouded the movements of the New Zealand Division was broken just before sunset yesterday. Following air and artillery preparation on the grandest scale a New Zealand infantry spearhead in an assault in the Bth Army’s greatest attack in Italy stormed across the Senio. This morning the river line is irretrievably broken and they are more than 2500 yards forward and more than 600 prisoners are being herded back to the rear.

It is exactly a week since the New Zealand troops re-entered the line after a month of rest and training. The return to the front was carried out by night, in the greatest secrecy, with all badges, titles and divisional markings concealed. Since then our men in a number of small actions, nave ousted the enemy from near the back of the river. After an afternoon of intensive preparation the attack was launched into the setting sun and through a haze thrown up by bombs and shells. The first prisoners were not slow in surrendering themselves. They belonged to the most, forward elements which were caught in a holocaust of shells and flame-throwing tanks, huddled in deep emplacements in the lee of the northern stopbank until overrun, by the swiftly-advancing New Zealanders.

Before darkness had fallen completely some scores of shaken and dejected" Germans were on their way to collection points, and the numbers swelled rapidly rapidly asfthe advance went on. But" all the Germans are not giving up so easily. While the initial resistance on the left flank was not. strong, the right wing of our advance met stiff opposition in strong positions on, the fringe of Cotignola, and had to fight for every inch of territory. The danger period in any crossing such as this is when the infantry is well forward hut without the support of heavy arms. This period was safely weathered without serious counterattack or threat developing. In the early . hours of this morning bridges were in and tanks and supporting arms were rolling forward. Meanwhile all objectives had been secured.

# The division holds a broad front south-east of Lugo, having by-passed the sore spot of Cotignola. Ressitance is stiffening, with tank and infantry forces ahead and on the higher flank, but the attack still goes on.

Final Fearful Crescendo.

As the barrage ended in a final frightful crescendo, the waiting infantrymen saw great streaks of golden flame curving toward the enemy. It was the flame-throwers scorching the opposite stopbank. The flames were followed by great black clouds and this was the signal for the infantry to go over.

Suddenly the top of our stopbanlc was lined with black silhouettes. Then they disappeared. Some carried assault boats and within a minute of starting the infantry were J actually crossing the river. As they scrambled down the steep slope of their own stopbanlc the enemy opened up with small arms fire but nothing could stop that sudden irresistible surge of grim fighters. They were across the narrow, stream, up the opposite stopbank, and among the Germans before the enemy had a chance to size up the situation.

Within a minute of reaching the top of the enemy’s stopbank the fight there was over and the New Zealanders were heading for the nearest casas. The battle had again become a matter of fighting from easa to casa. The Maori Battalion got away to a very fast start. Within three minutes of getting the word to go they had passed both stopbanks. Within half an hour they had several prisoners back to battalion headquarters. The 21st Battalion ran into bad trouble from the start and they picked up a great number of prisoners on the stopbank. Though the Germans were in considerable force there the New Zealanders simply overran them with the speed and savagery of the initial attack.

Within an hour the Maoris had SO prisoners, and the 21st Battalion nearly 100. Thereafter the advance continued steadily all along the line until, when nearing their objective, the battalions were slowed up with tanks in front of them.

This morning it was reported that the objective had been reached and the position consolidated, and at 6 a.m. the infantry pushed on again quickly, reaching the starting line for the second phase of the battle. Our casualties are very light, but it is believed casualties were heavy among the Germans, and the number of prisoners taken is more than 1100. Behind the infantry the engineers did a wonderful job, throwing six bridges across the Senio. Working in darkness they had the bridges open in time to allow the tanks to cross into positions before daylight.