STIFF RESISTANCE MET BY ALLIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 64, 16 March 1944, Page 5

STIFF RESISTANCE MET BY ALLIES

FIFTH ARMY FRONT

Improvement On Beachhead Sector N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 1.30 p.m.. LONDON, Mar. 15. Allied infantry were reported to be meeting fierce resistance this afternoon in their attempt to drive through Cassino from the north, says the British United Press correspondent. An American thrust south of Carrocetto, on the Anzio beachhead front, is reported by the German News Agency commentator Praegner, who claimed that the thrusts broke down in the face of massed German resistance. Rome radio said that fighting was extremely bitter and protracted and that the Americans eventually withdrew to their original positions. In the beachhead our front lines were improved and an enemy pocket of resistance was cleaned up. On the main Fifth Army front and the Eighth Army front patrols were active, states an Allied communique. Mopping-up Operations Military commentators state that British troops yesterday carried out fighter offensive action south of Carrocetto. The Allied positions in the gully were improved by the end of the day. Allied forces are still mopping up isolated German pockets on the beachhead.

Rec. 1.30 p.m

Correspondents state that with an improvement in the weather our troops have been more active. We made a reconnaissance in force and there was tough fighting among the wadis near the main Anzio-Albano road. These waddis are still deep in mud despite the drying sun of the last few days. Our men advanced, with strong artillery preparation, and at one point there was close-in fighting with grenades and tommyguns. The Germans resisted strongly around a ruined farmhouse, but we captured it with 12 prisoners. Some of the prisoners were suffering trench feet and all were poorly fed.

German night patrols again attacked the Indians on the Sorsogna sector of the Eighth Army front, but were driven out.

The weather on the Fifth Army front is fair, with light showers, but on the Eighth Army front it was a rainy, gusty day, with snow in the mountains.