PATROL ACTIONS IN ITALY

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24152, 11 January 1944, Page 6

PATROL ACTIONS IN ITALY

GERMAN FORCES PROBE N.Z.E.F. POSITIONS

(Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.) N.Z. DIVISIONAL HQRS., Jan. 7. Strong enemy patrols have been active on the New Zealand front in the last three nights, but, although they have- caused some casualties, they have not been able to penetrate far. They have suffered casualties themselves, but in the darkness have been able to take back most of their wounded and dead when forced to withdraw.

One of these patrols consisted of men wearing white clothing and probably snowshoes. They came in from the windward to a house in which some of our* infantry were located, taking advantage of the sleet which blinded observation from our lines.

Near the house they split up and attacked from different directions with grenades and automatic weapons, but were driven off. Similar tactics have been adopted by other patrols, but without much success.

There have been no major developments on this sector of the front.

Our artillery fire continues, and the enemy has been using mortars against our forward positions fairly consistently. After a few days’ fine weather, which made little impression on the New Year snowfall, rain and sleet descended over this area two days ago, and yesterday there was a light fall of snow.

The weather is again fine, but bitingly cold when the wind sweeps down from the mountains.