GRIM FIGHTING FOR 5th ARMY

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24150, 8 January 1944, Page 5

GRIM FIGHTING FOR sth ARMY

German Defence Of San Vittore

ADVANCES ON THE FLANKS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. Since dawn on Wednesday Americans and Germans have been grimly fighting for San Vittore, the small Italian town which is the key to the enemy’s defence of Cassino and the main road north. Gradually, the Allied troops are pushing the enemy out. On both flanks of the sth Army’s offensive, the advance has continued through the snow-covered hills. Indian troops of the Bth Army have improved their positions, says to-day’s communique from Allied headquarters. British and American troops went forward together at dawn in blinding snow and a gale, to make the sth Army’s attack. Medium and light bombers were to have laid down a carpet of bombs for the advance, but the weather grounded the heavier machines and fighters and fighter-bombers were used instead. Invaders were active in strafing troops, ammunition dumps, and other targets. Heavy Allied artillery fire was laid down, and the Germans replied with 88 m.m. cannon and multiple mortar fire from hill positions. The advance would not have been possible had it not been for the work of 250 British sappers, who constructed a mountain road under constant fire from the enemy.' They had to cross a storm-swollen river and beat off an enemy attack. Allied headquarters reported the move in the communique;— “The American and British troops of the sth Army have launched an attack in rough mountain country. Advances averaging a mile in depth have been made along a front of approximately 10 miles. Street fighting is in progress in San Vittore, where the enemy converted houses into pillboxes. Stiff fighting continues on the Adriatic coastal sector.

“Light bombers on Tuesday night attacked the chemical works at Torre and fires were left burning. Bad weather yesterday limited air operations, but fighter-bombers attacked enemy gun positions in the Cervera area. One of our aircraft is missing. Torre, mentioned in the Algiers communique, is about seven miles northeast of Popoli, on the main railway between Sulmona and Pescara.

A new type of fighter-bomber, named the Invader, is mentioned in the cables from the sth Army front in Italy. It is an adaptation of the Mustang, suitable for dive-bombing and carrying two 5001b bombs. Canadians of the Bth Army have captured a hill three miles beyond Ortona. They now overlook a coastal village eight miles distant along the road to Pescara. Infantry are clearing out enemy nests south of the Foro river. British destroyers sailed 130 miles up the coast beyond the Allied front to bombard Pesaro, a railway served Adriatic port about 80 miles due east of Florence. About 200 rounds were pumped in. This is the farthest yet Allied craft have been up the Adriatic.

HEADQUARTERS IN LONDON GENERAL EISENHOWER’S PLANS (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6. The Supreme Commander of the Allied invasion forces, General Eisenhower, will make his headquarters in London, says the “Evening Standard.” An announcement is expected to be made from Allied Headquarters when he arrives. General Eisenhower may bring to London many staff officers who served under him at his North African headquarters. His movements have been secret since January 2, when he sent a farewell message to the Allied forces in North Africa.

The Official German News Agency has announced that Rommel has completed a tour of Holland and has inspected coastal defences in the occupied western territories. The News Agency said that manoeuvres and alarm exercises again had proved the high training and fighting worth of German soldiers.

65 AIRCRAFTCARRIERS

NEW UNITED STATES SHIPS (8.0. W.) RUGBY, Jan. 6. “The United States Navy has 65 air-craft-carriers and is now the greatest sea and air power in the world,” said the Under-Secretary of the Navy (Mr James V. Forrestal). “We have completed six 27,000-ton carriers of the Essex type, nine light 10,000-ton carriers of the converted cruiser type, and 50 escort carriers. In 1943 1,600,000 tons of combat shipping were completed, almost double the tonnage completed in 1942.”

ALLIED MONETARY CONFERENCE

STABILISATION AFTER WAR

(Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Jan. 6. The Secretary of the United States Treasury (Mr Henry Morgenthau) said he hoped the United Nations post-war monetary stabilisation conference would be held early in 1944. He added that the United States and Britain were closer on this subject than ever before, while the' Russians were en route for talks before the conference similar to those the United States had had with 43 other nations.

PROFITEERING BY INDIANS

TWO MEN IMPRISONED (Rec. 11.50 p.m.) SUVA, Jan. 7. An Indian wholesale storekeeper. P. J. Patel, was sentenced to six months imprisonment and a fine of £4OO, m default a further six months’ imprisonment on a charge of selling textile piece goods at excessive prices. His excess profit was £7B. Tulsibhal, for a similar offence, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and a fine of £3OO, in default a further three months’ imprisonment. The excess profits in this case were £l4O.