SETBACK IN ITALY

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1944, Page 2

SETBACK IN ITALY

FIFTH ARMY WITHDRAWAL. LONDON, December 28. To-day’s Allied communique says: “The enemy, in the Serchio Valley sector of the sth Army’s front, continues to press the attack launched on i Tuesday. Our leading elements made a further slight withdrawal. Small patrol skirmishes occurred elsewhere i on this front. Eighth Army troops con- | tinue to clear the east bank of the I Senio River.” FURTHER AMERICAN RETREAT. (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, December 28. Americans in the Serchio River Valley had to make further withdrawals in the face of the determined [ enemy drive supported by medium 1 and light artillery on a seven miles front, says the Associated Press Rome ! correspondent. The Americans had to give up the town of Barga, 14 miles north of Lucca, which they captured a month ago. The Exchange Telegraph Agency correespondent says; So lar there is no sign of slackening in violence of the German attack on the Serchio Valley. The enemy is vigorously pressing against the Americans over mountains as well as valleys, sustaining pressure with artillery and planes. Eighth Army forces reached the outskirts of Alfonsine on the Senio River. The countryside here is a mass of ice and movement is very difficult, but the advance of almost two miles was made. AERIAL ACTIVITIES RUGBY, December 28. Strong forces of heavy bombers, with, escort, on Wednesday attacked oil refineries and railway yards in Austria, railway yard in Jugoslavia, and railway yards and bridges in North Italy. Many bridges were destroyed and railway cuts made Seventen aiicraft are missing from 2300 sorties. V.C. FOR GURKHA. RUGBY, December 28.

The Victoria Cross has been posthumously awarded Rifleman Sher Bahadur Thapa, of the Ninth Gurka Rifles, for gallant action when his battalion was lighting its way forward into San Marino State against bitter opposition from prepared positions. He and the section commander charged the enemy post cleaning it out. Another party of Germans attacked the two men and the section commander was badly wounded. The Rifleman lay in the open under a hail of bullets, firing a Bren gun at the enemy. By the intensity and accuracy of his fire he silenced the enemy machine guns and checked those who were trying to infiltrate on to the ridge. When the forward companies were ordered to withdraw, Thapa covered their withdrawal as they crossed the open ground and remained alone at his post until his ammunition ran out. He then dashed forward under accurate small arms mortar lire and rescued two wounded men lying between him and the advancing Germans. While returning a second time, he fell to point-blank fire.