ATTACK WATCHED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 209, 1 June 1944, Page 5

ATTACK WATCHED

Mr. Fraser At Atina (Official News Service.) N.Z. D1V..11.Q., May 29. The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, this afternoon had his first glimpse of actual warfare in Italy. Round the shambles that is Cassino and in the villages further north he had already seen much of the aftermath of the fighting; but today he stood in the recently captured town of Atina and looked down the long valley at whose end Maori and white New Zealand troops were advancing behind fire from New Zealand guns. Mr. Fraser went to Atina in the course of another Jong day spent visiting divisional units —this ’ time artillery formations —which have been moving up behind the withdrawing German forces on this sector. He was in the town talking with n circle of gunners and other New Zealand troops when the sound of gunfire came echoing up from the valley below. British mediums were firing at enemy positions on the hillsides across the valley. and Mr. Fraser could see their shells bursting a few miles away. At the same time two German guns were sending over spasmodic rounds in an attempt to straddle the road running along the middle of the valley—a road busy with New Zealand trucks moving to the front. Later this afternoon Mr. Fraser was informed that Maoris were going into action in the hills at the end of the valley, joining other Dominion infantrymen already pressing against the German rearguard there, and he watched the clouds of dust and smoke rising in fuont of them as New Zealand field guns paved the way for the attack. Escaped Prisoners Met.

Apart from the resounding crack of the guns, the valley seemed so serene and lovely in its vivid greenness, that it was hard to believe it was a sector in the battle for Rome. Yet all round the Prime Minister was evidence _ that war had just passed by. Atina itself was scarred by recent shellfire damage and some of its inhabitants had just come back. Mr. Fraser had again made an early Start on another full day’s itinerary. This time he was conducted by the brigadier commanding the division’s artillery, and once more they rode in a jeep along miles of white dusty roads to meet officers ami men of the field regiments. An unexpected conclusion was given to the day’s programme when they returned to divisional headquarters this evening to find three escaped British prisoners of war just reported in. Talking with them. Mr. Fraser found they had been released by the Italians from a camp further north and had managed to get away into the hills before the Germans took control. That was last Christmas, and since then they had been hiding. They were odd-looking .figures in a mixture of army and old civilian clothes, but they were relieved beyond measure at being back on our side ot the line. When Mr. Fraser said he was pleased to meet them, one replied, Not half as pleased as we are to be able to meet you.’’ .