5th ARMY AGAIN ADVANCES

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24152, 11 January 1944, Page 5

sth ARMY AGAIN ADVANCES

Gain of Two Miles At One Point MORE HEIGHTS CAPTURED (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 10. “On the sth Army front further advances were made yesterday, and at one point the line was moved forward ] about two miles,” says to-day’s communique on the fighting in Italy. “Two more heights overlooking enemy positions were captured. “There is nothing fresh to report from the Bth Army sector.” “The Germans have launched a strong counter-attack against the sth Army units holding Monte Majo,” says Reuter’s Algiers correspondent. “The enemy is also counter-attacking at several other points along the line of the sth Army’s advance. “The Bth Army front is becoming active after the recent paralysing storms. Heavy artillery exchanges are going on. Troops and vehicles, however, are still bogged down by thawing snow and deep snowdrifts.” “The sth Army is one-lhirtf of the way through the Germans’ defensive belt protecting the Cassino gateway to Rome,” said Reuter’s correspondent in an earlier dispatch. “Fighting on this front has developed into battles for the heights flanking the road to Cassino, where the Germans are strongly entrenched. With the village of Giusta in Allied hands, the sth Army is developing an attack against Monte Chiaia, a 1200foot snow-capped peak north-west of Giusta and one of the three main peaks still, barring the way to Cassino. “The Americans south-west of San Vittore are still battling for the slopes of Monte .Porchia. which is south of | the Rome road. The Americans one mile south-west of this point are engaged in hard fighting for Monte Cedro, Several neighbouring heights in this area have been captured. The Germans round Monte Cedro are firmly entrenched in a strong defence belt some six miles deep. The battle is largely developing into infantry actions. This is because the Germans are so well dug in. Shelling is not effective, except with a direct hit. The Germans in this sector are employing the Hermann Goering Division, which was recently resting behind the line. “Maoris of the New Zealand Division on the.Bth Army front have distinguished themselves. The Germans in one sector of the Maoris’ line broke through, but the Maoris immediately attacked and wiped out the entire German focce. “Deep snowdrifts in the Orsogna sector are keeping activity down to a minimum.” German Account of Fighting “Fierce fighting is going on for the mountains barring the way to Cassino,” said the Berlin radio. “Monte Porchia several times changed hands. The Germans repelled repeated enemy thrusts against Monte Cedro. The fighting for Monte Majo and Monte Chiaia was equally fierce until the German covering forces abandoned the mountain slopes, which were ploughed up by enemy artillery. The Germans again dug in on the slopes of a nearby mountain. The Americans are at present attacking the new German defences.” Yesterday’s Allied air communique said: “On Friday night bombers attacked the aircraft factory at Reggio Emilia, and on Saturday it was again heavily and accurately bombed by strong forces of heavy bombers escorted by long-range fighters. The airfield at Mostar, in Jugoslavia, was attacked by other heavy bombers. Medium bombers were out in strength Some attacked railway installations at Metkovic, in Jugoslavia, while others made heavy attacks on railway • communications. Fighters and fighterbombers carried out many missions against troops, gun positions, and rail targets in the Cassino, San Stefano. and Artina areas. Rolling stock and motor transport were attacked in the Aquila district. “On Thursday night intruder aircraft destroyed rolling stock and motor transport over a very wide area of southern France and northern Italy. They also shot down a number of aircraft over their own bases without loss. Ten enemy aircraft were destroyed for the loss of three of ours on Saturday, and it is now known that an additional two enemy aircraft were destroyed on Friday.” The Rome correspondent of the Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau reports that Allied aeroplanes yesterday raided Rome and Fiume.

It has been revealed that British commandos, besides special Belgian and Polish troops, have been fighting in Italy since the Salerno landing.

FORMER ITALIAN LEADERS

CIANO AND DE BONO FACE TRIAL

(Rec. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 10. The Zurich correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” reports that the trial began on Saturday of Ciano, former Italian Foreign Minister; Marshal de Bono, former Supreme Commander of the Italian Army; Marinelli, former director of the Fascist Party; Gottardi, a former trade union chief; Cianetti,

CIANO former Minister of Fascist Corporations; and Pareschi, former Minister of Agriculture. The opening stages of the trial were not reported in the “neoFascist” press. Reuter’s Zurich correspondent says that the trial of Ciano and other members of the Fascist Grand Council who voted against Mussolini was postponed at the last moment. The defendants have been transferred from Verona to Cremona.

JEWS’ HOPES FOR PALESTINE

LABOUR PARTY’S CONTENTIONS

(Rec. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 10. Strong opposition to the Bntisn White Paper limiting Jewish immigration to Palestine was voiced at the Jewish Labour Party conference, reports the Jerusalem correspondent of the Associated Press of America. Political partition of Palestine of any kind was also opposed. Speakers contended that a largescale Zionist immigration within the framework of a comprehensive Middle East development scheme would benefit Palestine, the Middle East, and the Arabs, and would contribute to a better understanding between Jews and Arabs.

Most speakers expressed the view that political autonomy for Palestine Jews and representation of their state as a commonwealth in a post-war international body would be necessary.