FREYBERG REORTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 304, 23 December 1943, Page 6

FREYBERG REORTS

N.Z.E.F. IN ITALY SURPRISE MOVE SANGRO ADVANCE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this clay. The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, has released the following report from Lieut.-General Freyberg on the initial operations undertaken by the Second New Zealand Division in Italy:— "The Second New Zealand Division rejoined the Eighth Army in November, and has just taken part in the offensive which forced the crossing of the Sangro and broke the enemy's winter line. In conditions completely different from those we were used to in North Africa, your Division carried out a most difficult operation in a way which showed that the veterans of the desert, and men who had not seen action before, have become a well-balanced fighting formation, excellently equipped and trained for this campaign in Europe. The preliminary fighting in the advance on the Sangro was carried out across difficult country, in very bad weather by an Indian brigade under our command, supported by New Zealand tanks and artillery. "Fighting rearguard actions, to which the German Army are now well accustomed, the Division contested each river valley and hilltop village through which the Italian roads wend their way. Not only had the enemy rearguards to be dislodged, but demolitions on a grand scale had to be bridged. In some places vehicles were winched through one bv one until firm ground was reached. Trucks slipped and got bogged in a sea of mud, and at times it seemed impossible such a large mass of transport could be cleared. Neither weather nor enemy rearguard, however, stopped the advance, and our whole force with all its transports, tanks and guns was brought forward over the narrow mountain roads. ISlost Gallant Attack

"Enemv resistance stiffened at the approaches to the Sangro. British and Indian infantry of the Indian Infantry Brigade, supported by tanks of our 19th Armoured Regiment, carried out a most gallant attack. They crossed the river's upper reaches and captured high ground, whence the enemy had been able to observe our movements and bring down artillery fire. Southward of the Sangro River our sth and 6th Infantry Brigades under Brigadiers Kippenberger and Parkinson, deployed for the next phase of the battle. Then heavy rain fell. It again brought the river to flood level and delayed our attack. Quite apart from the weather the .operation was most difficult as the wide river bed was dominated by all the heights of the north shore. "The plan was to carry out a night attack and our troops were waiting ready for the river to fall. On November 26 the weather improved. Battle exchanges opened along the Eighth Army front on the night of November 27, with the New Zealand Division on the left flank. Moving forward in pitch dark our infantry crossed the river with the aid of ropes, formed up on the north bank at 2 a.m. and assaulted the heights. This attack by the sth and 6th Brigades under artillery barrage on a 6000 yards front, was brilliantly carried out. The enemy was driven from all our objectives, leaving many dead and over 300 prisoners behind. Engineers' Good Work "In the river bed itself the engineers worked all night, and next day under intense shell fire, making tracks through and building bridges to get supporting arms and tanks across to secure the bridgehead. Until the bridges were completed only a few tanks could get across owing to mud and quicksands, but before the enemy recovered from his initial surprise, artillery was brought forward and the infantry again advanced. Our daylight infantry attack on high ground took the enemy by surprise and Castel Frentano was occupied.

"By the capture of this hill town J on the highest ridge overlooking the Sangro River both the Fifth and Sixth Brigades established themselves astride Kesselring's much vaunted winter line. There can be no doubt the enemy intended to hold his defensive system covering the line of the river Sangro. • It was very strong, consisting of deep reinforced trenches and dugouts and a complete communication trench system, and electrically-lit living quarters. The whole system was covered by extensive minefields and barbed wire. The men who stormed it would look back with satisfaction from this fortress of hills and skilfully-planned defences and realise what they had achieved. While . the New Zealand Division collected along the high ground other formations advanced on the coastal sector. Supported by powerful Allied air forces the Eighth Army broke through the German line on a wide front. "The battle of the Sangro is an important step forward, but the enemy is still fighting back hard, and I must warn the New Zealand Government that heavy fighting lies ahead before the enemy is driven from north of Rome. Praise From Commander "Ma3 r I quote, in this dispatch a letter I received from our Army Commander referring to the part played by the New Zealand Division in the battle: 'I would like to congratulate the New Zealand Division on its splendid achievement of the last few days. Since the Division came into the battle line of the Eighth Armj r , after a long absence, it has been faced with forces of nature and by a determined enemy in strongly-prepared positions. Thu Division has dealt with the forces of nature and with the enemy in a manner that is beyond all praise. The part played by the New Zealand troops in the battle for Sangro should make all those in their home country very proud of their soldiers serving in Italy. " 'Please tell your officers and men how pleased I am with what they have done. Further tasks lie ahead, but having smashed through the enemv's winter line we now are well placed to tackle the enemy in tho open. Good luck to you all.—(Signed) L. Montgomery, General, Eighth Army. , Losses Xot Unduly Heavy "I am writing this account in my office truck in the forward area, waiting for the bombardment of another attack to begin. The moon is full, it is a cold and overcast winter night. The conditions are hard, but everyone is in excellent spirits, and I am glad to report that, in spite of strong enemy resistance, our losses to date have not been unduly heavy.