FIERY HAIL FACED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21305, 18 January 1944, Page 3

FIERY HAIL FACED

AMERICAN FORCES CAPTURE 6F TROCCHIO

FRENCH BATTLING AHEAD

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, Jan. 16. American troops of the Fifth Army in Italy, according to an official report from Algiers, have occupied Monte Trocchio and are at present consolidating their positions. ■ Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers says that the Americans from the west and south-east attacked this formidable barrier three miles from Cassino early yesterday morning. They met fierce resistance from the Germans, who opened up with artillery and mortars against the Americans advancing up the slopes. The Americans also found their progress impeded by pillboxes, barbed wire and camouflaged machine-gun nests which threw out a hail of fire.

While this attack was going on, the French forces, 10 miles northwards, advanced two miles from the village of San Elia and the headwaters of the Rapido River. There are few Germans, apart from those in the prisoners’ cages, now east of the Garigliano and Rapido Rivers.- The Allied forces at are present exploring the Rapido River and its several tributaries east of Cassino.

French and American troops continued their advance on a front of 10 miles in the north and central sectors of the Fifth Army and, in some places, advanced another mile, states a correspondent at Allied Headquarters in North Africa. Threatening Cassino irom their right front, the French captured the village of Cardito, situated on the central lateral road from, Colli to Atina, three miles to the north-east of Acquafondata, and kept up their pressure towards the west after taking a village on Monte Croche, 3600 ft. high. Other places overlooking portions of the lateral road were also captured by the French. They kept the same pressure further south and stormed and captured the village of Villa Rotono, two and a-half miles from Acquafondata, and are now marching towards another well-defended village, San Elia, reaching a point two miles east of it.

On the Eighth Army front troops continued vigorous and successful patrolling in the Orsogna area. British troops raided enemy outposts and, after hard fighting, captured prisoners and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Another British patrol also attacked an enemy position south of Civitella, taking prisoners.

N.Z. Patrols’ Successes

In the same area, New Zealand patrols probed far into enemy territory and the Maoris were able to man the guns of some of our disabled tanks which they had found in no-man’s land and turn them on enemy positions.

Flying Fortresses and Liberators turned their attention on Saturday to rail installations and lines of communication. Most targets were in the Florence area. Liberators bombed the railway yards at Prato. They were escorted by Lightning fighters and met no enemy aircraft. Flying Fortresses carried out widespread attacks on enemy supply routes, bombing rail and road targets at Orbieto, Poggibonsi, Certaldo and Arezzo, all of which are on the main line to Rome.

Railway bridges and the highway at Porto Civitanovo on the east coast south-west of Ancona, the port installations and railway yards at Civitavecchia were also bombed. Mitchells attacked the railway junction at Poligno, midway between Rome and Florence, scoring hits on the tracks. Marauders bombed three railway bridges at Orvieto. Fighter-bombers attacked a supply dum& and the railhead of San Valentino, 15 miles west of Chieti, causing several large fires and explosions. Kittyhawks scored hits on small motor vessels in Sibenik harbour in Yugoslavia and also bombed and strafed two torpedoboats.

Ahead of the Fifth Army, fighters and fighter-bombers attacked defended positions and lines of communication. Two of our aircraft are missing from ail operations.