DRIVE IN ITALY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1944, Page 6

DRIVE IN ITALY

TRIPLE SUCCESS WON

CASSINO UNDER SHELLFIRE (By Telegraph—Tress Association —Copyright.) Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, January 18. The Americans crossed the Rapido River north of Cassino in a howling gale and found the enemy had retreated some distance from the river. The Americans arc now two miles from Cassino. According to Algiers radio Cassino is under shcllfire. The capture of St. Elia, according to „ Reuters Algiers correspondent, was * effected by the French after they had pushed the last 1000 yards across the mountains and also reached the east bank of the Rapido and captured Valvori, a mountain hamlet two miles north-west of St. Elia. • The seizure of St. Elia is regarded as a serious setback for the Germans as it was the northern anchor of the Gustav Line. Thf» Canadians, with a barrage of 100 - guns, opened their attack on the German, positions on the southern bank of the Arielli River. Thousands of shells hurled on a 1500-yard sector of the German lines while Kittyhawks strafed a/ad dive-bombed the enemy. Then the infantry advanced under covering Aire from tanks. By the afternoon they had reached their first objective, a small stream, II miles from Arielli.