LIVELY SORTIE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 62, 14 March 1944, Page 5

LIVELY SORTIE

REPULSE BY FRENCH

Offensive Operations Halted

On Italian Fronts

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, March 13. Bad weather on all fronts in Italy prevented offensive operations, states the latest Allied communique. Allied patrols were active over all fronts and clashed with the enemy at several points. Allied artillery fire was heavy at the beachhead.

Allied artillery at the Anzio beachhead yesterday heavily and effectively shelled targets which had been previously located, says Reuters correspondent at advanced headquarters in Italy. The Germans returned the fire. The Germans carried out a lively raid against the French troops in the mountains north of Cassino and east of Terelle. The French held on tenaciously and broke up the attack. Patrols were more active on the Eighth Army front than elsewhere.

Berlin radio's commentator Praegner says the Allies are consolidating their fortifications in the Cassino area. The weather in Italy improved to-day, but it is not likely to clear up completely. The ground it too muddy for major operations. Praegner claims the Germans in the beachhead and the Cassino areas repulsed several attacks by British and American shock troops.

Allied Navies Active Once again light coastal forces of the Allied navies penetrated behind the island screen on the Dalmatian coast and attacked enemy coastal shipping in Neretva Channel, between the mainland and the island of Hvar, and Peljesac Peninsula, off the mouth of the River Neretva. Although the weather was bad yesterday, the Allied air forces, in thecourse of 300 sorties, struck at the other end of the enemy's coastal communications by attacks on shipping in the western Mediterranean.

Allied headquarters states on Friday night light coastal forces operating in Neretva Channel sank an enemy coastal vessel and took a number of German prisoners. On the next night the British destroyers Bicester and Ledburg, on patrol on the east coast of Italy, south of Andona, sank an enemy coastal vessel.

Owing to bad visibility and rain yesterday air activity was on a reduced scale. Fighters carried out patrols and reconnaissances in the battle area. Fighter-bombers attacked enemy shipping in the western Mediterranean and bridges and trains on the west coast of Italy. One enemy aircraft was destroyed. None of ours is missing. No enemy air activity was reported over the battle area. Indians Smash Thrusts Indian troops on the Eighth Army front were kept on their toes throughout Saturday night when the Germans threw in heavy patrols around Orsogna, states a correspondent at Allied headquarters. The three biggest attacks were of platoon strength, supported by small tanks at various points. The Indian artillery was effective and small arms fire at close quarters smashed every German effort to get through the Indian lines. All major operations along the Eighth Army front are still held up by rain and snow. On the Fifth Army main front there is little ground action. In the Anzio beachhead patrols keep busy probing the enemy lines, while harassing artillery fire continues on both sides. Allied gunners have done considerable damage to several enemy targets. Again on Saturday night the Germans raided Allied forward positions, dropping anti-personnel bombs. Poor visibility over the target areas cancelled all major Mediterranean aircraft operations. The Desert Air Force bombed road transport in the beachhead area, causing explosions among fires already burning at Campoleone. Genzano, Cisterna and Velletri were bombed, while naval forces operated against Adriatic shipping. Beaufighters destroyed two enemy supply ships of 3500 and 3000 tons. Coastal Spitfires hit recently the repaired Cecine Marina bridge. A Junkers 88 was destroyed off Marina Dipisa.