VIOLENT COUNTER-ATTACKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 147, 18 December 1943, Page 7

VIOLENT COUNTER-ATTACKS

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec 9 a.m. * LONDON, December 17. The loss of the Ortona-Guardiagrele roajJ, which is the Germans' principal supply route for the three divisions facing the Eighth Army bridgehead, has literally pushed the Germans back, against the wall, says the Algiers correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting System. : ■ , ■♦ Near Orsogna the New Zealanders launched a successful attack on the road in the face of determined opposition by the enemy, who brought up tanks and armoured cars in support of their counteroffensive. Two strong counter-attacks here were stopped by the Do* minion troops with cold steel, and heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy. • , . ; ; Near the coast the' same kind, of action took place. The Allies improved their positions and checked the German attacks.

Rec. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Decs 17. The Germans are fighting fiercely along the Italian front and launching powerful counter-attacks at every possible opportunity, according to a correspondent at Allied headquarters. A disagreeable surprise awaited them yesterday, when some were captured by French troops now fighting under the command of the Fifth Army Group. The Frenchmen stormed important heights, despite strong resistance. Many of these Fighting French troops are veterans of the Tunisian and desert fighting. . On the" Eighth Army front, very fierce fighting took place on' the Ortona-Orsogna road^ where the Allies are pushing forward. The Germans are fighting bitterly for every inch of ground, invariably using tanks. • . The Fifth Army has pushed forward in the mountainous region at the. north end of San Vicenzo and captured two. other important hills there. West of Filignano we captured two more important heights and advanced a mile and a half. Further south a counterattack west of Venafro was beaten off after hand-to-hand fighting.—B.O.W.