SLOGGING MATCH IN ITALY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 13332, 20 December 1943, Page 3

SLOGGING MATCH IN ITALY

GAINS MADE BY ALLIES SAN PIETRO CAPTURED BY AMERICANS Hard Counter-Attacks. By Germans New Zealanders Reported to Have Entered Orsogna London, Deo. 19. li» Italy the him! slogging match continues at both ciulu of the front and both the Allied armies have made gains. The Germans have counter-attacked again at several points but they have not won back any ground. On the Fifth Army front American troops have captured the stronglyfortified village of San Pietro, one of the main bastions that has been blocking our progress towards Gassino on the eastern side of the road to Rome. The Germans fought very hard to hold the village although they were almost swamped by intense American artillery fire from live surrounding heights . Since San Pietro fell American troops have pushed about a mile farther north while deeper in the Apennines more American and French troops have advanced northward. One village has been captured about 12 miles north-east of Cassino. Despatches dealing with (he Eighth Army’s progress- say that General Montgomery’s men are firmly established in all their positions just south of the Oi'sogna-Ortona Road and at several points they havo pushed across the road. One useful point has been captured about two miles north-east of Orsogna. It was reported in one despatch that New Zealand troops had entered the village of Orsogna. The battle for control of this road is still as fierce as ever and the Germans are bitterly counter-attacking at every opportunity. However, tho persistent courage of the Eighth Army troops is wearing them down bit by bit.

Allied-fighter bombers have again done good work over the battlefronls in spite of bad weather. American medium bombers have struck at German supply routes as far afield as southern France. Thfey scored direct hits on a railway bridge carying the main line over the River Var west of Nice.