New Zealanders Smash Hun Thrust

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 304, 23 December 1943, Page 5

New Zealanders Smash Hun Thrust

DEFf FLAME-THHQW.ERS House-By-House Battle For Ortona In Eastern Italy (N.Z.P.A.—Copyright.— Rec. J p . m) M 7-ij LONDON, Dec 22 New Zealanders completely \ t counter-attack aimed at driving th em tt * " German between Ortona and Orsogna, ""Z the r ° ad German flame-throwers, shooti g f ""*!?• long, led the counter-attacking infantry andtanl 5 ° yards Ortona, says Reuters correspondent in Algiers. General Mont gomerys armoured unite, including Sherman tanks, are engaging a concentration of German Mark IV.'s left to defend the town

Berlin radio to-night stated that the Germans at Ortona, after yielding some hundred yards of ground, took up new positions on the fringe of the city. They were previously subjected to a very heavy barrage lasting three hours, and had to face attacks supported by tanks. Reuters correspondent with the Eighth Army reports that Ortona is being taken from the Germans house by house and street by street. The Canadians are stealthily creeping in across enemy-held positions on the east coast. Dive-bombers softened up the German defences before the Canadians attacked with tanks and mortars on Monday evening. They were well into Ortona by midday yesterday, but mopping up will be a slow process. German machine-gunners and snipers are likely to cause considerable trouble, and the whole area is thickly sown with mines and booby traps.