ENEMY STILL ON DEFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 165, 10 April 1944, Page 5

ENEMY STILL ON DEFENSIVE

Gun Duels At Anzio INFILTRATION MOVES FRUSTRATED (British Official Wireless.) (Received April 9, 9 p.m.) RUGBY, April 8

Patrol clashes and artillery activity along the whole area of the combat patrol front Of the beach-head have slightly improved our position by establishing a strongpoint in the area north of the central sector, writes a correspondent in Italy. The enemy remains on the defensive, hut patrols are active on both sides, and frequent attempts to infiltrate our lines have been frustrated througho.ut two days. Following successive days of fire, enemy buildings on the east flank are gradually crumbling. Allied artillery successes are reported on the Eighth Army front, where enemy propaganda shells were fired in the vicinity of Ortona. In the mountainous central sector, enemy patrols approaching our forward positions were engaged and repulsed five miles north-east of Cassino and casualties were inflicted on an enemy working party in the Terrelle area. In the Garigliano Valley, a reduction in enemy fire was reported during the course of artillery duels near the coast. German activity included harassing fire against three heights north-east of Castelforte. Two enemy units are reported to have reappeared on the line on the Anzio beach-head. One is revealed to be the Seventh Luftwaffe Battalion, composed of military offenders, who have been given an opportunity of redeeming themselves by combat service. Identification of the other unit is not detailed. Our beachhead ground flak has destroyed 157 enemy planes and probably destroyed 101 since the initial landing on January -2Enemy Attack in Moonlight. Several small attacks have been made by enemy forces along the north-east boundary of the Anzio beach-head during last night, when brilliant moonlight made the battlefield as bright as day, states another correspondent. The German forces were supported by fighter-bombers which ranged over the forward areas bombing and strafing, and by heavy artillery concentrations. All the attacks were easily repulsed with losses to the enemy. While these battles were going on, enemy tanks were observed west of Cisteriia. Guns of the Fifth Army opened on them and they quickly withdrew. During our shelling, enemy ammunition was hit and ammunition supplies continued to explode for some time. Shelling by both sides was heavy today. The enemy employed as many guns and shells during the day as he has been using lately for night offensives. The German commentator, von Praegner, says that the Germans yesterday repelled fairly strong American shock troops attempting to cross Mussolini Canal, on the beach-head. Berlin radio stated that Hitler has awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross to General von Sengler nnd Etterlin for breaking up two Allied offensives at Cassino. A vast drainage project has been started by Fifth Army engineers in the area north of the Volturno in continuation of the malaria-control programme started by the Italians.