LULL IN ITALY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 59, 10 March 1944, Page 5

LULL IN ITALY

BREAK EXPECTED Two Small-Scale Attacks Smashed At Beachhead N.Z. Press. Association—Copyright Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 9. American troops have smashed two small-scale attacks against the Anzio beachhead positions south-east of Carrocetto. Otherwise ground activity is limited to gunfire and patrolling. However, with improvement in the weather early, fresh moves are expected to break the lull on all Italian fronts.

Since tha first landings at the Anzio beachhead the Germans have lost 240 tanks in hammering against the beachheads anti-tank defences, which have been strengthened further during the past few days' lull, says the British United Press correspondent. The defences also accounted for over 20 field guns. The beachhead fortress to-day is stronger than ever.

Detailed reports of German casualties reaching Allied headquarters indicate that the Anzio fighting has depleted the enemy forces in Italy in both men and armour. German casualties in anil near Cassino since the end of January total 7500 killed and wounded, and 1500 prisoners.

Port Stefano Kidded Allied fighters and fighter-bombers were active over the beachhead and ahead of the main Army front yesterday. The Luftwaffe flew over the beachhead last night showering anti-personnel bombs. Port Stefano, 60 miles north of Rome, has become very important to the Germans since the widespread Allied air attacks on railway communications forced them to bring more supplies by sea for their armies south of Rome. Marauders again raiding the port yesterday started several fires on the waterfront and also bombed railway installations.

The Marauders confirm the damage to Rome railway centres during the recent raids. Piles of debris cover the marshalling yards and many warehouses were blasted. The Marauder crews saw no sign of panic or confusion among the Rome population. One gunner said: "I can guarantee all Rome's monuments are standing."

Alexander Confident "I am still absolutely confident that we will pull off this landing. Things are much better in the beachhead than when I was here three weeks ago," stated General Sir Harold Alexander, Allied Comman-der-in-Chief in Italy, to war correspondents after concluding another inspection of the Anzio beachhead. General Alexander admitted that the situation was not easy and things had not gone as he had originally hoped, but, he added, "I am quite confident it will be all right now."

He said it was difficult to say when the Allies would be able to break out of the beachhead, but other things were happening. General Alexander exonerated the beachhead correspondents from all blame for causing uneasiness to British and American public opinion, concerning which he recently censured them.

ITALIAN FLEET

Churchill Gives Views On Disposal STATEMENT TO COMMONS Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Mar. 9. Recent statements relating to the disposal of the Italian Fleet were mentioned by the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, when he told the House of Commons, "As Mr. Roosevelt said, the question of the future employment and disposal of the Italian P'leet has been the subject of some discussion. In particular, consideration has been given to the immediate reinforcement of the Soviet Navy either from British, American or Italian resources. At present no change is contemplated in the arrangements of the Italian naval authorities, under which the Italian ships and crews take part in the common struggle against the enemy in the theatres where they now operate. "It may well be found that the general question of the disposal of the enemy or ex-enemy fleet should best be left over until the end of the war against both Germany and Japan, when the entire situation can be surveyed by the victorious Allies and they can decide what is right and just."

UNFORTUNATE CITY

Atmosphere Of Anxiety And Hardships At Rome VATICAN AIDS WITH RELIEF Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Mar.' 9. Cut off from the rest of the world and approaching a state of famine, Rome is one of the world's most unfortunate cities, says the Rome correspondent of the Swiss newspaper Basler Nachrichten. The everpresent danger of air attacks is making the situation worse. Hospitals, crowded with wounded from the battlefields a few miles away, deepen the general atmosphere of anxiety and hardship. The situation is regarded as extremely serious.

Air raids have broken water and gas mains. The food shortage is reaching a climax. Bus services are practically suspended. Military cookhouses, erected in public squares, are dispensing soup to the bombedout people and destitutes.

The Vatican is also distributing food, but the population's misery is increasing. Heavy rain in the last week increased the plight of the population, which has almost been doubled with the influx of refugees. Additional thousands are now homeless as a result of air raids.