IN WINTER'S GRIP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1944, Page 5

IN WINTER'S GRIP

STALEMATE IN ITALY Minor Engagements Only At ' Many Point 9 Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 7. Patrol activity, both in the beachhead and the mam Fifth Army front, is reported in a communique from advanced headquarters in Italy. Sharp clashes occurred at Cassino, and Indians from the Eighth Army repulsed two small enemy attacks, inflicting casualties.

General overcast weather yesterday continued to hamper air operations. Fighter-bombers attacked gun positions north of the beachhead, also roads and railways near Rome, shipping off the Dalmatian coast and communications in Yugoslavia. Fighters flew battleline patrols. Three of our planes are missing. The Allies flew 500 sorties. No enemy air activity was reported over the battle area.

There were minor engagements at many points on all Italian fronts over the past 24 hours, but no major battles. Rain and snow have brought operations to a standstill. Streams are flooded and ravines are full of water in the forward part of the Anzio beachhead front. Bad visibility again grounded Allied heavy bombers. The Luftwaffe made no appearance whatsoever over the beachhead. The Germans are holding out tenaciously at Cassino town, of which we hold one-third.

Reuters correspondent at Allied headquarters reports the Germans are now using 28-ton Panther tanks in the beachhead area, presumably because their 52-ton Tigers have not fulfilled expectations owing to the soggy Italian terrain. The Panthers were previously used only on the Russian front.

ROME AGAIN BOMBED FEARED HEAVY DAMAGE Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 7. Allied planes again raided Rome to-day Rome radio said that many waves of British and American bombers in the morning raided the city dropping numerous high explosives and incendiaries on districts previously heavily damaged. Planes at low level machine-gunned three Red Cross ambulances which were proceeding to the bombed areas. The number of casualties is not yet ascertained, but it is expected to be very high. ~. The newspaper Osservatore Romano stated that damage in recent raids is more serious than was at first admitted. All gasometers and also the central food market in San Paolo district were destroyed, all Rome being without gas. Some districts have also been without electricity and water.