GERMAN ATTACK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 307, 28 December 1944, Page 5

GERMAN ATTACK

WEST ITALY COAST Fifth Army Units Withdraw To Prepared Positions N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 27. A German attack in some strength on the coastal sector of the Fifth Army front is the highlight of the Italian battle news, says Reuters correspondent in Rome. The Germans, after heavy artillery fire, threw in infantry east and west of the town of Mallicano, in the Serchio River valley, 30 miles east of Spezia, on the west coast of Italy. The Germans are also active 20 miles south of Bologna in the Fifth Army's central sector, where they are stepping up their artillery fire and air attacks. Eighth Army troops, advancing north-east of Bagnacavallo through Rossetta, cleared further fortified positions. Patrols along the Senio River heard the Germans on the west bank, singing Christmas carols. An Allied communique from Italy reports that the enemy attack was in some strength in the Serchio Valley sector and caused our outposts to withdraw to prepared positions. A correspondent says that Canadian, United Kingdom and Kew Zealand troops are still squeezing ["hard at the German' pocket between j.Faenza and Bagnocavallo, and they j have put up heavy artillery fire on I enemy rearguards, who have S defended every stronghold savagely i until forced to withdraw.