COLOSSAL CRACK

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1943, Page 5

COLOSSAL CRACK

BY EIGHTH ARMY ACROSS THE SANGRO Being Worked Up [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 1.10) LONDON, Nov. 29. On the Eighth Army sector planes of the tactical air force are swarming in the sky over the British bridgehead across the Sangro River, as Air Marshal Tedder ’further increases pressure in his round-the-clock air offensive. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says: Our bombers are loosing almost a non-stop rain of bombs against fortified buildings, gun emplacements and road junctions. Several German batteries have completely been wiped out. Spitfires practically swept the sky clear of the Luftwaffe m the critical area of the Lower Sangro, where our bombers were helped by clearer weather, and able to locate targets almost at will. British sappers are working day and jpght in most difficult conditions to throw more pontoon bridges across the An air communique states: On November 27, Rimimi railwav yards ana bridges were attacked "by heavy bombers of the North-west African Air Force, escorted by long-range fighters. Grizano railway yards and a bridge over the Reno River were also attacked by heavy bombers. Porto Civvitanouva was bombed by medium bombers, and a small ship was sunk at Sinehik. Strong forces of medium and light bombers, fighterbombers and fighters attacked railway trucks, motor transport and enemy positions north of the battlefront. During this and other operations seven enemy aircraft were destroyed. Five of ours are missing. Eighth Army troops who landed on the north bank of the Sangro near the mouth, met no opposition but found the ground heavily mined. They were firmly established on the north bank by daylight on Sunday. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent stated: General Montgomery after his stirring message to the Eighth Army, seized more favourable weather on Sunday to pour men and supplies across the Sangro in preparation for a “colossal cra'ck.” On Saturday night the Eighth Army landed further reinforcements byj amphibious vehicles near the mouth of the Sangro. Six miles up the Sangro, the Germans are shelling an Eighth Army position at Archi, south of the San' gro. ' The Germans hereabouts enviously fear another assault across the Sangro, because their main highway running south-west of Lanchiano. loops toward the Sangro at this point, within range of the Allied artillery. German rearguards on the south bank of Sangro, thirteen miles south of Loop, are at present falling back and are demolishing everything in their path. Eighth Army artillery situated on the heights north of Castel di Sangro is successfully shelling the Germans north of the Sangro. ENEMY CLAIMS REPULSE. LONDON, Nov 28. The Rome radio declared that violent German fire repelled large infantry formations of the Eighth Army, supported by tanks, which attacked the German positions on the Sangro front. FIFTH ARM'Y FRONT. LONDON, Nov. 28. Improved weather increased the activity of the Fifth Army front. The Americans, after a two-mile advance secured valuable heights in the area of Mount Lafalconara. A navy communique says: “It has just been learned that during daylight on Tuesday last positions, north of the Gariglino River in the Gulf of Gaeta were successfully bombarded by British destroyers. The return fire was ineffective.” FIFTH ARMY ATTACKS (Rec. 1.10) LONDON, Nov. 29. The Fifth Army has begun an attack against German positions in the Monte Cassino region. INCREASE OF GANGRENE CASES. (Rec. 7.35.) LONDON, Nov. 28. Bad weather, mud and other local conditions have caused gangrene cases among the Allied soldiers m Italy to increase to twenty per thousand. as compared with three, per thousand in the desert campaigns. Field doctors are successfully countering the infection by an early use of anti-toxin serum and a thorough cleansin'g of wounds. Medical ,nien are developing a completely-equipp-ed bacteriological laboratory for the study and treatment of all forms of gangrene. Italy’s New Rule DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT LONDON, Nov. 28. The Swiss radio stated: The latest meeting of the Italian Cabinet was presided over by Marshal Badoglio. It was decided to re-establish the constitutional and political rights of the people which were abolished under the Fascist Regime; to abolish the death penalty introduced in Italy in 1930; to abolish all racial legislation, and finally to reinstate all Italian officials dismissed by the Fascist Government for political reasons. The Bari Radio announcing the decisions of the Badoglio Cabinet added: All those responsible for the Italian disaster, including those who had taken up arms or collaborated with the Germans since the armistice, will be handed over to military justice. ITALIAN REPUBLIC ADVOCATED. (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 29. r A British United Press correspondent at Naples stated: A turbulent meeting at Naples University called for the immediate establishment of an Italian republic. Speakers included Count Sforza and Signor Croce. They demanded the abdicat*on of the King and the institution of a Regency.