RESISTANCE INCREASING

Evening Star, Issue 25089, 2 February 1944, Page 5

RESISTANCE INCREASING

MAJOR EFFORT TO STAY ADVANCE MORE MEN AND MATERIAL LANDED ON BEACHHEAD (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 1. With ideal. conditions prevailing the Navy was able yesterday to increase the scope of the landing of men and material on the beachhead and to maintain the bombardment of enemy positions close to the front line and near Formia, says a correspondent at Allied headquarters. The British cruiser Penelope took ipart in the bombardment. The air forces also took an active part in the operations in support of the land forces, despite bad. flying conditions.

The range of attack was on the Aretinasezze and Itri aerodromes, all adjoining the main thoroughfares to Rome. The Germans are bringing up reinforcements from the north ot Rome. Hitherto they have had to rely on men drawn froni the Fifth Army front. The Americans, who advanced to the outskirts of Cisterna, dealt with the enemy well dug in, offering fierce resistance.

The British advanced along the Anzio-Albaano road to reach the outskirts of Campoleone. With the advance of the main Fifth Army front the Germans are fighting desperately and not yielding any ground unless they are absolutely forced to, writes a correspondent at Allied headquarters. Sometimes they leave prisoners as when 250 were captured by the Americans. The latter are now engaged in mopping up and consolidating their gains in the Cassino area as well as around Cairo and Montevilla and the hills which they captured. The Germans twice strongly counter-attacked the American positions, but were broken up by artillery fire from the neighbouring hills. The Americans are now pushing on to Belvedere, where French troops made a short advance, and, continuing, consolidated the ground already gained. In these sectors the Germans launched counter-attacks whenever possible, but their efforts have shown a slackening off compared with the (previous day. On the Lower Garigliano the British made short' advances and consolidated their positions at Mountuga. . The British also pushed half a mile to the north and captured Mount Purgatono, three miles north-east of Castel Forte and high ground on the 400 ft Mount Natale, north-west of Minturno. The Germans continue to fight hard in that sector, though with little success. Several counter-attacks were beaten back.

On tho Eighth Army front the Canadians supported by tanks and artillery, cut across the Tollo-Villa Grande road and are astride of it, although opposed from well dug in positions. Two enemy raids towards Orsogna were beaten off. The fighting on the perimeter of the beachhead south of Rome is hard, according to Press despatches from the front. A correspondent reports that " resistance to our extension of the area is increasing. Obviously the enemy has decided to make a major effort to contain us. The Germans a/e dug in in foxholes and are making every farmhouse a fortress. Enemy artillery is also increasing. The Navy helped,with shelling on the flanks. The heaviest fighting now lies ahead and we

in the bridgehead are ready to face counter-attacks. ? ' Another correspondent says the German air attacks have slackened in the past two days, partly perhaps due to the weather, but largely because of the high rate of his losses.