CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 January 1945, Page 5

CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

PATROL ACTIVITY. LONDON, January 17. Active patrols have been resumed in Italy, although the bad weather continues. The opposing forces on both the sth and Bth Army fronts have been fighting for houses and promontories used as observation posts. Heavy and medium bombers have been kept on the ground, but fighterbombers have been bombing enemy communications and supply bases in the Po Valley. The Germans are using Bazookas in attempts to demolish houses occupied by the British near the Senio River. Each side is trying to deny the other the use of houses near the river as observation posts and strong points. Patrols in snow and flurries of rain fought at scattered points on the Eighth Army front. There were no changes in forward positions on either side. Clashes occurred along the whole Fifth Army front. LOCAL ENCOUNTERS (Rec. 2.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 17. Fighting flared up 12 miles south of Bologna, when Fifth Army patrols atempting to probe German positions met intense fire from self-propelled guns, and were forced to withdraw, stated Reuter’s corrrespondent at Allied Headquarters in Italy. The Germans continue to be extremely sensitive to attempts to sound the defensive positions. This is equally true on the Eighth Army Front, where lively local actions occur along the whole of the Senio River. An Indian patrol operating south of the Faenza-Bologna highway, after being ambushed, pushed into Germanheld territory and wiped out an outpost, killing 10 and bringing back 10 prisoners. Hard frosts and ground mists continue. RELEASE OF WARSHIPS. LONDON, January 17. The German Embassy in Madrid is reported to have strongly protested to the Spanish Government against the release of the Italian warships.