CHANGING ATTITUDE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 120, 16 February 1944, Page 5

CHANGING ATTITUDE

German View Of Prospects In Italy LONDON, February 14. The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm “Svenska Dagbladet” quoted German military circles in Italy as saying that the Allies’ great advantage in material made iti doubtful whether the Germans could stop a new drive. The German overseas radio said: “Owing to a temporary numerical superiority, supported by a fantastic deployment of material, the Allies have temporarily advanced as far as the centre of Cassino. The operations at the beachhead aren’t of any importance compared with the Cassino battle, which rages with the utmost violence.” Earlier, neutral correspondents in Berlin quoted reports that the British forces had regained the initiative atkCairocetto. They said that the Germans acknowledged that the 'battle south of Rome was increasing in intensity, with a heavy Allied offensive expected shortly. Reuter says that British troops supported by tanks made a short advance west of Carrocetto, and captured a bridge over the railway running parallel with the Anzio road.

Describing the British capture of a small but important bridge (between Anzio and Campoleone, the British United Press correspondent says: “Wave after wave of German infantry crossed the stream, attacking British positions on the south bank, only to be mown down. The defenders refused to budge, and kept up the fire until the assaults began to fall off, whereupon the tired British started to counter-attack. When the British reached the stream they found it clogged with German bodies which filled- a V-shaped trough and spilled up over the top on to the banks. As a result of this engagement the Allies are now established on the northern bank.” The German news agency says that civilians are to be evacuated from certain unspecified coastal areas in Italy, and adds that this is being done as a precaution against landings. Two of the areas are on the west coast of Italy, and another is on the Adriatic coast.

WARNING LEAFLETS ‘ (Received February 15, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 14. Warning leaflets were dropped by shell within Mount, Cassino monastery today reading: “Italian friends, beware! We have till now been especially careful to avoid shilling the monastery. The Germans know how to benefit from this. Fighting has swept closer and closer to the sacred precinct. The time has come for us to train our guns on the monastery itself. “We warn you urgently to leave the monastery in respect of this warning. It is for your benefit. —(Signed) Fifth Army.”. Reuter’s correspondent at advanced Allied headquarters says the delivery ot the leaflets in the monastery by shells was the first time Allied guns had been deliberately trained on the monastery throughout the Cassino battle.' The British United -Press correspondent with the Fifth Army learns that bombing and shelling of the Cassino monastery, if absolutely necessary, has been authorized by the Allied command, but so far the monastery has been spared. Rome radio stated on Monday that the famous Basilica of Cassino Monastery has been entirely destroyed oy Allied artillery.

AIR SUPPORT FOR TROOPS (Received February 15, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, February 14. Bad weather grounded the heavy bombers yesterday, but tactical air force bombers kept up their attacks. Most of the 800 sorties yesterday were in support of the beach-head troops. Tlie British United Press correspondent at Allied headquarters says that though the weather was still sufficiently bad to keep the heavy bombers grounded in the daytime, Allied planes continue to blast the German belt round the beach-head. Wellington bombers last night dropped two-ton block-busters on Cecchina, while Mitchells bombed objectives at Cassino, where the intervention was welcomed by Allied troops grimly fighting among the ruins. RAIDS FROM MIDDLE EAST (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 14, More enemy ships attempting to supply occupie’d islands in the Aegean Sea were attacked and damaged by Middle East. Beaufighters yesterday, according to a Cairo message. Ships in Hydra harbour were bombed and one was bit in the centre of a group. • Beaufighters shot up two-masted vessels west, of Plaka Point and scored hits with cannon shells-