ITALIAN CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 November 1943, Page 5

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN

N.Z. DIVISION LANDED

ALLIES’ NEW OFFENSIVE

RUGBY, November 22.

' Despite the continuance of very heavy rains, high winds, and rivers and streams in flood, the Bth and sth Armies were active yesterday and everywhere probing and threatening the defence line which the enemy is still labouring io strengthen as Winter quarters, states a correspondent at Allied Headquarters. On the Bth Army front high winds still prevail. Strong patrols were put across 'the Sangro River to capture Vastogir--I’arde and San Pietro, 12 miles from the sea, while on the southern end of the river we forced the high bank and occupied high ground south of Alfedena, a very important town on the main road to Rome. Fires were observed on Saturday both at Alfedena and Caste! Di Sangro. Our medium bombers were able yesterday to carry out attacks on enemy objectives. Marauders bombed the west coast port of Civiti Vecchia, causing great damage over a large area, demolishing many buildings and tearing supply communication lines. They also sank a 100 ft vessel in the harbour and damaged landing craft. Other Marauders, escorted by Lightnings, bombed the railway line at Chiusi, scoring many hits on the yards, damaging warehouses and the central station. Other new targets for the Marauders were road and rail bridges at Farno, north-west of Ancona. Four enemy fighters attempted to intercept our bombers, but were driven off by Lightnings. Mitchells attacked gun emplacements at Gaeo, north-west of Naples, scoring hits on the target area. Warhawks and Kittyhawks bombed and strafed enemy strongpoints near Lanciano, which faces the Bth Army line. One enemy aircraft was destroyed and one of ours is missing. Allied Headquarters in North Africa states that a large number of Canadians were included in the troops who recently arrived in Italy. Vichy radio reports: German reconnaissance shows that a large scale Allied offensive is imminent both on,the Sangro and the Garigliano river fronts. General, Montgomery is receiving large reinforcements, which are now concentrating. It adds: Striking from Archi, the Eighth Army made a number of attacks, forcing German advanced units to fall back across the Sangro.

N.Z.’ERS’ ARRIVAL.

GEN. FREYBERG’S MESSAGE

WELLINGTON, November 23. t The presence of New Zealand c troops in Italy was announced to-day s by the Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr. y Nash), who said he hoped to be able t to release further news soon, but for \ the time being he was unable to say c any more than that the New Zealand a Division had rejoined the Sth Army c in Italy, where-it received a very i: warm welcome from General Mont- t gomery and his Staff. a Mr. Nash added that General Frey- \ berg was in constant touch with the a Government and’ had informed him v that the journey across the Mediter- T ranean, now dominated by the Al- c lied Navy and Air Forces, was un- t eventful and smooth. The voyage t was under ideal conditions, which (. were greatly enjoyed by all ranks. A c new modern building and small res- , taurant had been taken over in the citv in which the Division was based, as "a New Zealand Forces Club for men on leave. The management c team had come from Cairo as , had supplies of New Zealand goods. , The General concluded by saying: q “New the final phase of the war c against Germany appears in sigfit, there is a feeling of exhiliration in the air. After their rest in Egypt ( and a period of training, all ranks arc ready for our next role, whatever j it may be." „ i "As soon as circumstances permit, ] said Mr. Nash, "news will be releas- < ed as to the rok; assigned to our Division in the Italian campaign. Mean- T while, 1 know 1 speak for all the t people of New Zealand when I. say r our hearts and our thoughts are with f tiw‘ famous Now Zealanders, who . comprise what is probably one of. the finest divisions in rhe world to-day. ] Our wish is that good fortune will ( attend their arnis and that the cause , for which they have fought so gallantly' and well will soon be brought to an early triumphant conclusion. german Vinter line t (Rec. 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 22. ' Two important towns on the Sangro River, also an important ( road junction on the road to Rome > through Avezzano, are expected to fall soon into the Eighth Army s t hands’. The two towns are Alledena ■ and Caste! di Sangro. The capture ol . San Pietro, to-day, opened the way . for the new advance against these , keypoints. < Eighth Army patrols are now j probing Rionera,. between the two towns. Fires have been observed at both Alledena and Castel di Sangro, suggesting the Germans are preparing for a withdrawal. The, Eightn Army to-day also captured VastoGirardi, 12 miles north of Isernfa. British troops are now within six miles of Alfedena and even closer to’ , Castel di Sangro, both of which are ■ strongpoints in the German Winter . line. Reports from patrols and air reconnaissance show the Germans are still : reinforcing and strengthening the Winter line. The drive which brought • the Eighth Army to the present position was made in slightly better > weather than last week, although the troops had to contend against floods, rain, and winds. The drive also brought the forward positions close to the Sangro along almost the entire course. Violent artillery duels are going on along the Fifth Army’s front. The Allied forces on this front are confronted by swollen rivers, and heavy rain is still falling. NAVAL SKIRMISH RUGBY, November 22. On Friday night, British destroyers operating off San Benedetto, on the east coast of Italy, fifty miles south of Ancona, met and engaged an enemy convoy of small craft. One lighter was sunk and another believed sunk', and a tug damaged. Enemy coastal batteries opened fire and inflicted superficial damage on .British ships. ANTI-GERMAN~DEMONSTRATION ; (Rec. 10.50 a.rn.) LONDON, Nov. 22. A state of siege has been proclaim- ■ ed in Florence, where street lighting - has been raging-near the station be- ; tween Italian partisans and German • troops, according to frontier reports 1 published in the Swiss newspaper I "La Suisse.” which state that a siege • is also reported proclaimed in the I Province of Como. i The "Daily Express” correspondent 'at Chiasso reports that sabotage I and aggression against the Germans i continue unabated throughout North I Italy. Martial law in Milan, which . the Germans proposed to lift yester- > day is continuing because two German sentries were killed on the night 5 of November 18. Socialist elements f are active in Milan, systematically i tearing down German or Fascist proi clamations. Because five of several - Germans and Fascists were ambush- - ed and killed at Reggio on the night ! of November 18. the Germans im-

posed a curfew, and took into custody hostages.- The Germans also took as hostage 200 Italians, as the result of the killing of 40 Fascists near Pisino. A new proclamation by King Victor Emmanuel to the Italian troops in German-occupied Italy, calling on them to fight the Germans, was broadcast by the Cairo radio. “The enemy is attempting by all means, ranging from promises to extreme brutality, to prevent you doing your honourable duty for your country. I call on you to wage battle against the enemy with al) the means at your disposal.” BLACK~MARKETS. LONDON, November 21. “Italy has another war—the war against the black market, which is getting into its stride,” says a correspondent with the sth Army, “The latest development has been a raid led by two British officers on a black market stronghold, in which every house and shop in a cordoned area was searched. The haul included clothing, food, petrol, cigarettes, and army equipment, some of which had been stolen from the docks. Twentysix persons were arrested and they now await trial. The raid was made by police under the Amgot authorities. At the same time as the round-up was announced came a tightening in the curfew restrictions. SURRENDER OF SAMOS. (Rec. .10.25 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 22 The Berlin radio announced that the garrison on Samos surrendered this morning. The radio’s military commentator stated the capitulation occurred on the initiative of , about 3500 British soldiers who, in view of the lack of air protection, refuseci to face bombardment from Stukas without any chance of success. With the fall, of Samos the entire Aegean system ot bases of British and Italian troops is' now in German hands. Reuter’s military correspondent says that although the German claim is "not confirmed in London, there is no disposition to regard it as unfounded. The opinion is it is unlikely that as many British soldiers were involved as the Germans slate. The reasons wifi ch prompted the . British authorities to run the risk ol establishing exposed garrisons at Kos, Leros, and Samos arc not yet explained.