ALLIES PROGRESS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1944, Page 5

ALLIES PROGRESS

FIFTH ARMY FRONT Further Enemy Strong Points Captured British Official Wireless Rec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, Jan. 13. The military commentator on Algiers radio' stated that Allied troops, still pressing forward in Cassino corridor, captured further enemy strongpoints on Wednesday. It v/as reported that the Fifth Army had seized a ring of heights around Cervaro, and on Thursday Allied Force Headquarters announced that Cervaro was in our hands. During the past several days British and American infantrymen have fought ferociously against stiff German resistance in the mountains surrounding this village. Although the Germans had constructed what they believed to be formidable defences in depth, Allied infantrymen inched ahead, taking first one dominating height then another. The battle raged under most severe mountain conditions, but the Germans slowly retreated. Prisoners captured throughout the fighting for Cassino corridor stated that they had been ordered to hold out to the last. French troops of the Fifth Army have taken Monte Raino and Monte Mollino, both of which changed hands several times. The Allies now hold the high ground overlooking Acquafondata. A number of German prisoners were taken by the French. Position For Final Attacks A war correspondent says that Cervaro is four miles east of Cassino and dominates the approaches to Cassino itself, the Fifth Army being in a position to launch final attacks on the town. Another war correspondent in a message describing the French advance, states that French troops of the Fifth Army under General Juin had a great day yesterday fighting

in the northern portion of the line south-west of Rocchetta. They launched attacks in mountainous districts and made progress at several points to a depth of 1000 yards. The most northern point of tlie sector is a peak 3000 ft high, which was captured at the point of the bayonet. On the south road fierce fighting is taking place for Monte Casale, a large range with , the highest peak 4000 ft. With the capture of Monte Raino and Monte Mollino, they a-re now overlooking Acquafondata. American troops fighting for Monte Capraroine, Cervaro, captured it and completely occupied a village, despite unfavourable weather. Fighting on Eighth Army Front While patrolling and artillery duels are the principal activity on the Eighth Army front, the nature of the fighting shows an increased tendency towards close hand-to-hand combat. Artillery and mortars continue to roar across No Man's Land, but the opposing infantry is continually drawing closer to one another and sharp patrol clashes are occurring. In the coastal sector artillery barrages started large fires in the German-held town of Orsogna. Medium bombers attacked rail installations in Yugoslavia and bridges in the vicinity of Arce, ahead of the Fifth Army on the road to Rome. Fighter-bombers in a sweep over the Dalmatian coast wore attacked by about twelve enemy aircraft, two of which were shot down without loss. Baltimores bombed Palcna, causing fires and explosions. The two destroyers which bombarded the east coast of Italy yesterday were Tyrian and Grenville. •