FIFTH ARMY’S ADVANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1944, Page 5

FIFTH ARMY’S ADVANCE

GARIGLIANO CROSSED

HEAVY NIGHT-FIGHTING

RUGBY, January 1-9. The British troops of the sth Army, advancing against stiff opposition in the Lower Garigliano Valley have crossed the river at several points says a communique. French and American patrols are active in their sectors. $ British troops of the sth Army have crossed the Garigliano at three places reports a correspondent at Allied’ Headquarters. The first is at Suio a village on a height of 1500 ft, just’across the river a mile from Castel Forte and seven miles inland - the second is near the CapuaRome railway, four miles east of Minturno; and the third is at Arento near the mouth. The crossings were made in the face of heavy mortar and machine-gun fire. • Despite the fierce opposition the bridgeheads were maintained and fighting concorrespondent, who watched the assault, writes: “The flooded approaches to the river near the sea and the mountains that rise as the river widens inland, together make the approaches to the stream extremely difficult, but along the banks themselves thick trees provide cover. At 9 p.m. the attack began. For 24 hours our men had been hiding in cramped positions, edging their way forward yard by yard, with assault boats and collapse craft. Bofors, firing tracer shells, were the first to open fire, followed by the sharp crack of 25 pounders. The hills behind were bright with gun flashes. “Fires were started at two places on the opposite bank. Fierce blazes illuminated the whole scene. Artillery support was given as the infantry forged forward. The detonations only died away with the first light of ’dawn, when reports came back of penetration along the whole line of attack, and parties of prisoners came drifting back.” On the Bth Army front the Canadians achieved limited withdrawing under cover of night to their original positions, reports' another correspondent. At Ataletta, two miles south of San Angelo, the British encountered German ski troops. In the Orsogna area Germans forming up to raid houses held by us were shelled and dispersed. Patrol activity and shelling are in progress all along the front in rainy weather and low cloud. The Algiers correspondent of the British United Press says the Germans after an American raid across the Rapido River have withdrawn to stronger positions on the six-mile fortified line between Cassino and San Elia, which forms part of the Gustav Line.- Fifth Army units are now under a mile from Cassino. The Columbia Broadcasting System's Naples correspondent says that after 62 hours’ fighting the British beat off counter-attacks and advanced two miles from the Argento bridgehead.

AERIAL OFFENSIVE

RUGBY, January 19

Allied air operations, yesterday, included attacks by escorted heavy bombers on key points and rail communications in Tuscany. The railway yards at Pisa, Pistoia, Poggibonsi, Pontedera and Certaldo were bombed, also the airfield at Pistoia. Medium bombers sank one enemy, merchant man near Castiglaoncello and damaged another. Light aircraft were very active in co-operating with the ground forces over the battle area. They "'also flew numerous sorties against communications in Northern Italy and Jugoslavia and damaged shipping off the Dalmatian coast. Seven enemy aircraft were destroyed for the loss of three of ours. Pistoia is an important communications centre where the line north of Florence divides, one turning to Bologna and the other to Pisa and the coast. Pontedera is on the FlorencePisa railway, Boggibonsi is on the main road nearly 40 miles south of Florence, Certaldo is 12 miles northwest of Poggibonsi,- and Castiglaoncello is 20 miles south.of Leghorn. • The Rome radio stated that Rome was bombed to-day. The city’s waterworks were destroyed.

NAVAL OPERATIONS

RUGBY, January 19

A Naval communique records much activity in the Adriatic last week. It says otir destroyers shelled Rovinga, Durazzo, Drvenik and Vela Luka (Korcula Island). British coastal forces attacked a small ship in Sumartin Harbour (Brae Island) and engaged a Siebel ferry, sustaining some damage but no casualties. American coastal forces attacked lighters off Spezzia without damage to themselves.

Rovingo, on the West Coast of the Istrian Peninsula at the northern end of the Adriatic, is 17 miles north-west of Pola. The island of Brae, just south of Split, is immediately opposite the Allied line in Italy, and Sumartin is on the eastern shores. Korcula is some 30 miles south of Brae, separated from it by the island of Hvar.

GENERAL ASSAULT PLANNED

NEW YORK, January 19

Allied forces in the Mediterranean are preparing for a general assault' against Europe along the entire front from Southern France to the Aegean Sea, said Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, in an interview with a “New York Times” Algiers correspondent, Mr. Cyrus Sulberger. Plans for the co-ordination of this offensive with those promised from the east and west were completed at Teheran, and no essential alterations had been made s.mce in London discussions.

The correspondent says General Wilson scoffed at the idea that the Mediterranean theatre has been relegated to a place of secondary importance. Praising what he termed'a savage fight by Jugoslav guerrillas, General Wilson said: “We are going to aid them to the- best of our ability. At present the weather impedes the transport of supplies by land, and constant cloud hamper’s< flying. However, the Spring will greatly improve facilities.”

DEFEAT ADMITTED

NEW YORK, January 19. The idea that Germany cannot win the war seems at last to have penetrated the German Army, says the ‘New York Times’ Algiers correspondent. The Nazis captured in Tunisia were mostly defiant, professing belief that Germany would win, but those captured later reflect the more realistic view. They still maintain a proud military demeanour but admit they know the tide has turned definitely against Hitler.