NEW RIVER LINE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 290, 7 December 1943, Page 3

NEW RIVER LINE

EIGHTH ARMY DRIVE Navy Aiding In Advance To Pescara Rec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 6. The Eighth Army, which is now under 15 miles from Pescara, is fighting another river battle along the Moro River. Here, as on the entire length of both fronts, the Germans are fighting with utmost stubbornness. The British United Press correspondent in Algiers reports that retreating Germans have blown up bridges over the Moro. More demolitions are going on further -up the coastal road. The Navy is aiding the Eighth Army's advance towards Pescara. Nayal vessels are concentrating their fire particularly against roads and bridges. Destroyers' guns scored direct hits on at least one bridge. Heavy rain in Eastern Italy is adding to the difficulties of the winter battle. The Germans are making a stand. along the banks of the Moro River, where strong reinforcements have been brought up in a bid to hold this new river line guarding Pescara. The Moro, which runs into the Adriatic just north of San Vito, offers a far less formidable barrier than the Sangro River, but it is heavily swollen by rain. Algiers radio reports that violent battles are being fought on the Eighth Army's left flank, where the Germans are striving to exploit their success at Orsogna. "The enemy is bringing up reinforcements to the coastal sector of the Eighth Army front and is showing no signs of retreat," says a correspondent at Allied Headquarters. "A regiment of the famous 19th Panzer Division, which has arrived to reinforce the troops facing the Eighth Army represents the strength of an English brigade. "In spite of this powerful reinforcement our troops are still pushing forward in the coastal sector. We have reached the vicinity of Casoli, three miles north of Lanciano. Our tanks and infantry have wiped out enemy machine-gun posts and captured " a flame-throwing 1 tank."