RAIDS REPULSED

Evening Star, Issue 25169, 8 May 1944, Page 3

RAIDS REPULSED

MINOR ACTION SfMTALY

LIGHT BOMBERS ATTACK TRANSPORT (Rec. 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. Allied forces repulsed enemy raids against the Anzio bridgehead and the Upper Garigliano Valley, states to-day's communique from Allied headquarters in Italy. Normal patrolling and artillery activity occurred on other fronts. Bad weather yesterday prevented mv medium bombers operating, but light bombers and fighter-bombers attacked supply dumps, rail communications. and road transport. Fighters maintained battle-line patrols. Fight enemy planes were destroyed. Fourteen of ours are missing. The Allies flew nearly 2,000 sorties. Only one enemy plane was sighted l over the battle area in daylight.

It is now known that an additional 23 enemy planes were shot down on Friday. " ... A German force attacking the Anzio perimeter yesterday ran into deep machine-gun defences, well sited behind wire, and minefield defences, says Reuter's correspondent at Allied headquarters in Italy. The attack, which was officially said to be of company strength, supported by tanks, artillery, and mortars, ended a failure. Patrols south of the main points of the attack, engaged in small arms and grenade exchanges. Another sharp German attack on tho Upper Garigliano broke up under mortar fire. There was a stubborn fight for a forward position, both sides suffering losses. The Germans also attempted unsucessfully to penetrate Allied positions further down stream. Apart from these comparatively isolated clashes, the battlefield lias been quiet for the, past 36 hours