N.Z.E.F. Lead In Cassino Battle

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 66, 18 March 1944, Page 5

N.Z.E.F. Lead In Cassino Battle

TOUCH FIGHTING

Pitted Against Crack Nazi Paratroop Division (N.Z.P.A. Copyright.—Rec. 12.30 p.m.) XL TT-r A . LONDON, March 17. The-Fifth Army s New Zealand troops have been the spearhead of the assault against Cassino. state, the latest All el communique from Italy They fought their way through toWn to its south-western outskirts. New Zealanders and Indian! have "ppo,Won. Promment a ' UreS ov " lo °Wng the town despite strong .t, Ge . Freyberg's New Zealanders battling their wav through Cass.no the face of fierce German opposition from A]r e j r " ! J south-western corner of the town, the Allied Command is satisfied with the progress so far made, says m°ay not C £e?o P „° n dT "Cassino The complete fall of Cassino am>the° matter bM " PlUr,! Hill is The enemy counter-attacked on a limited scale last night and succeeded m regaining a small neighbouring hill feature. It I- V H Wn - tHat tHe Germans intended to turn the defence of Lin Valley into an epic of their military history, and they were prepared to suffer sacrificial losses. ff • Tk C i? r2t u h V nsted Pr !®? correspondent says the Germans, aftei the bombardment on Wednesday, returned to Cassino and set up strong points amid the rubble, from which they are now savagely defending the last toehold. It is thought that an entire division of. German paratroops is opposing the New Zealanders m Cassino The paratroops are the cream of the German forces in Italy and are only used as infantry in an emergency. Fierce and Consistent Fighting The New Zealanders have been battling these toughest of man troops for two days in fierce and constant fighting. To day's German communique says: "The enemy launched another attack against Cassino. New Zealand, Indian and French troops, with strong artillery and tank support, attacked' after fierce bombing. German parachutists repelled one force which penetrated the town." So great was the devastation when the New Zealanders ** entered Cassino that engineers were obliged to build bridges over bomb craters before Allied motorised units were able to move forward. Some bridges had to be as wide as 40ft over the great craters filled with water from rainfalls which followed the bombardment. Bulldozers, under enemy fire, were also clearing away the rubble to enable tanks to advance, while infantry used picks and shovels as much as rifles. Alexander Repeats Tunisia Tactics Reuters correspondent says that General Alexander's decision to re shuffle his forces and to use the New Zealanders as a spearhead is reminiscent of the tactics before the last act in Tunisia, when three divisions were secretly switched from the Eighth Army to strengthen the First Army's punch against Tunis. This time he brought over El Alamein veterans from the Adriatic to lead the advance against Cassino. Rome radio claims the annihilation of enemy forces which penetrated Cassino is progressing.