ADRIATIC SECTOR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 250, 21 October 1944, Page 5

ADRIATIC SECTOR

N.Z.E.F. IN ACTION

New Positions Won For Further Advance

(N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) BEYOND PISCIATELLO, Oct. 19. The New Zealanders have thrust across the Pisciatelio River and on over two miles to the road between Cesena and Cesenatico. From their new positions they are well prepared for a new advance. The fighting about Casetti and the road itself is of an extremely fluid nature as I write, with enemy panzer grenadiers and paratroops striving desperately to restore the position.

Last night our forward troops, who were on the line of the river, pulled back a few hundred yards to give the artillery a chance. Punctually at zero hour hundreds of guns poured shells into the area on the north bank of the river. The scene was indescribable as, in the eerie artificial moonlight created by many searchlights, flashes of the guns danced along the skyline. Then the barrage became a lifting one, and the New Zealand infantry and armour went forward. Resistance was at first slight, which was not surprising, as many prisoners seemed dazed at the fury of the bombardment. The total count of prisoners rose to nearly a hundred as the night progressed.

Macerone was cleared without much trouble by a company which distinguished itself at San Michele. Shortly after midnight a bridge was thrown across the river and supporting weapons commenced to roll across. The banks were very soft, however, and the first tank slewed, hit the bridge sideways, and rendered it impassable. Two hours later another bridge was in, and this one was kept in full ojjeration despite a constant threatened collapse of the approaches. Meanwhile all the forward companies were firmly on their objectives. By daylight this morning the infantry were well backed up by tank squadrons and anti-tank guns. During the latter stages of the advance men of a Wellington battalion over-ran the headquarters of a German battalion, capturing some of the staff. Bagnarola, which with Macerone yesterday proved a thorn in the side of our troops, fell easily to a southern battalion.

The rest of the day's story was one of steady advance, well backed by armour and artillery, up the long straight road leading to Casetti and Colabrina on the Cesena-Cesenatico road. Resistance hardened this afternoon, and mortar fire is particularly heavy at the moment between us and the river behind. Our own Vickers are chattering awav methodically, also behind us, probably sweeping the road and adjacent areas. Still further back the guns are firing constantly. I am standing near a Sherman which is in wireless communication with most of the forward armour. They are having trouble up there. There is a German hierh velocity self-propelled gun which is forcing our tanks to cover, and which has already , scored several hits. Artillery fire failed to silence him— hut now he has been spotted from the air. Soon there will be a formation of Kittybombers over to blast him from the path of our advance.