LINE ADVANCED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21303, 15 January 1944, Page 3

LINE ADVANCED

ALLIES JN ITALY PEAKS CAPTURED

NAZI COUNTER SMASHED

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Ol a.m.) LONDON, Jan. M

The whole British-American-French lino in Italy is moving forward, states the United Nations’ radio in Algiers. The Fifth Army, according to the Rome radio, is making one attack after another, "Cassino appears to be the aim of the renewed thrusts,” added the announcer. "It is an insignificant small ' village which enemy propaganda has depicted as an immensely strong fortilied town.” A communique issued by Allied Headquarters reports that American and French troops from the Fifth Army continued the drive through the rugged country against fierce enemy resistance, taking several peaks. Our troops repulsed an enemy counterattack designed to retake Cervaro and advanced beyond the town. On the Eighth Army front, British and New Zealand troops improved their positions. Patrols from both armies probed deep into enemy territory, gaining valuable information and taking prisoners. The newly-constituted French army is taking a prominent part in _an Allied advance on the western half of the Apennines between Garigliano and Alfedena. Strong U.S. Patrols Strong American patrols are .now driving beyond Cervaro, which the Americans of the Fifth Army captured yesterday, says Reuter's correspondent in Algiers. The patrols, moving across flat, open country, are nearing Pastinelie, which is a hamlet only three miles from Cassino. Bitter fighting is going on father south, where British and American troops are driving forward into the lower slopes of Monte Troccio, which is the last mountain barrier blocking the Cassino Pass. One British and two American thrusts are being made against the eastern and southern slopes of this height. They are prising the enemy out of the rocky strong-points at the bayonet point and blowing them from holes with grenades.

The Allies, attacking south-west of Rocheta, progressed to a depth oi 1000 yards at some points, reaching positions overlooking the road to Antino. The capture of this road would crack Cassino’s northern anchor.

French troops south-west of the road are now fighing fiercely, scaling a 4000tt. peak, which is one ot the toughest features in this area. The heights reported in the communique as having been captured by the French are around the village of Acquafondata. The French movement is gaining momentum, squeezing Acquafondata from two directions.

Airfields Battered

Yesterday enemy airfields were objectives of a concentrated attack by strong forces of bombers. Guidonia and Centocelle were attacked by escorted heavy bombers, while medium bombers attacked other airfields, the bombs falling among hangars, revetments, dispersal areas ancl runways. Fighter-bombers effectively supported the ground forces. At Isola and Collerforrin the railway yards were hit and at Formia the clock installations were attacked. On the Dalmatian coast enemy shipping was bombed near Sbenik. Ten enemy aircraft were destroyed and five of our planes are missing.

Allied bombers, strongly escorted by fighters, attacked Rome at noon on Wednesday, says the Rome radio. Numerous bombs were dropped on the city and suburbs. The allied planes flew over the Vatican City. The German News Agency says that enemy bomber formations which flew over Rome consisted of 90 planes. There was a certain amount of unrest among the population when the lowflying formations appeared. Antiaircraft guns outside the city went into action and German fighters took off. A series of dogfights were fought over Rome at between 6000 ft. and 25,000 ft. A heavy bomb fell about 220 yards from the boundary of Vatican City, but it failed to explode.