GENERAL ATTACK

Grey River Argus, 3 December 1943, Page 5

GENERAL ATTACK

BY ALLIES IN ITALY I EXPECTED TO DEVELOP With Rome as Objective EIGHTH ARMY CONTINUES ADVANCE. [Aust, & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 1.5) LONDON. Dec. 2. Reuter's Algiers correspondent states: The Eighth Army has broken through on the Adriatic front. It is close on the heels of retreating German forces. The Germans are withdrawing slowly ,and .stubbornly. They are making full use of demolitions, and minefields. Heavy rain has fallen in the last 24 hours. This also is hampering the pursuit. Paris radio states: The German reconnaissance planes have repotted that preparations are almost comnleted for an offensive on the Fifth Army front. General Alexander’s forces are undoubtedly launching a frontwide onslaught with Rome as its objective. A correspondent writing early on Wednesday said: The flve-mile ridge overlooking the Valley of the Sangro. between the villages of Fossacesia,. four miles inland from the Adriatic, and Romangoli. is now entirely in our hands. This position undoubtedly constituted the main German defensive line in the coastal sector, and our success was achieved after savage fighting. The. importance of the capture of this ridge lies not merely in the fact that it dominates the Valley of the Sangro in the coastal area, but it is an essential part of the main winter German defence line. Its capture may well affect his whole plan of battle. As far as it known, the enemv has no positions in the rear so well designed from defensive actions. There are still small pockets of resistance held by determined men ready to fight to the bitter end. Tuesday’s fighting was fierce, bloody and generally an infantry action, with much hand-to-hand fighting with the bayonet and knife work which the Indians and New Zealanders have already given the Germans cause to dread. Here and there the enemy was .able to employ armour, while oui- infantrymen received efficient. well controlled air support. Heavy shells from British destroyers supporting the infantry across the Sangro wrought havoc to the Germans. At Santa Maria, 80 prisoners were captured and 50 more at Fossacesia. Hard fighting took place for the possession of the village of Mozzagrogna. which finally remained firmly in our hands. The Algiers radio says that the Eighth Army following the breakthrough of the German winter line ’s now debouching towards the x’oad to Rome. Lanciano, -Gaeoliand Castelfrentano, three places of strategical importance, were captured duinng the drive north of Sangro. Reuter’s correspondent, comment - ing on the position, points out that the Germans have no natural barrier in the immediate vicinity on which they can fall back and they may be forced to revise their dispositions. There is no other suitable defence immediately to the rear. There is another lateral road four . miles ahead of the Eighth Army, but it is not apparent whether the Germans intend to make a stand on this position, A few pockets of isolated snipers and machine-gun nests on the Santa Maria Ridge are still being dug out and mopned up by patrols., says Reuter’s correspondent on the Sangro line. These groups are fighting tenaciously as did the f 1 army. The Germans have suffered heavy losses in men and armour. Thev fought so grimly for Santa Maria, that 130 stayed too long and were taken prisoners. General Montgomery stopped his ear in the battle area and said: It is a good show. We have broken through the German defence lines and the Adriatic Axis. I am prouder than ever of the Eighth Army men Over 25 miles on the right flank ef Montgomery’s army line from north of Castel Castiglione to the sea, our advance has been to a depth of two to three miles, and heavy fighting is still proceeding in wet weather. GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACK BEING GOT READY (Rec. 1.5) LONDON, Dec. 2. Vichy radio states: The Germans are bringing up reinforcements in an attempt to stem the advance or the Eighth Army, which is continuing an attack in full force, using _ a great number of men, much equipment, and many bombers. A fullscale German icounter-attack has not yet begun, but it is expected to start at any moment RUGBY, Dec. 1.

German losses yesterday in men and armour were heavy, says a correspondent in Italy. While we have pierced the main defence positions m the coastal area it is emphasised that no territory can be regained as secure until the enemy’s mam counterattack has met defeat. This was the case in the Sicilian battles and Salerno In the Sangro area this coun-ter-attack has not yet been delivered and the Eighth Army is not yet out of the wood. FIFTH ARMY LONDON. Dec. 1. Heavy showers have fallen on the Fifth Army front, where the principal advance was made north of Venafro, within three miles or Montaguila. where we were able to straighten the lines and capture important heights. . Here again the Germans neglected nothing in their defence. They have sown minefields .and erected "barbed wire entanglements in profustion. No such sudden break-through, followed bv nursu’t, is to be expected in lhe Italian hills as took place in the Libyan deserts, it is stated m London Ea"h rid?e can be defended, and the Adriatic coast consists of a series of ridges running to the sea. Moreover, the Germans .are devastating the country with characteristic thoroughness, leavin? not a house to shelter .the advancmg troops. The Algiers radio reports that United States troofis of the Fifth Armv. thrustrng beyond Castelnuovo, are now fightin" near Flaconara. The Germans are offering stiff resistance. The Associated Press Algiers correspondent states that the Fifth Army has advanced three miles. One Algiers -message says that the F’fth Armv is two miles from Lane'eho. whioh is the ch'ef defence centre on the enemy’s left flank. At no points is the penetration bevond the Sangro less than four miles deep. ITALIAN FLEET LONDON, Dec. 1. Units of the Italian Flert are taking part ! n th" war in the Pacific, -says Reuter’s Naples correspondent, anntin" an official announcement. He Adds that Italian Fleet units are

serving also in -the Mediterranean and Atlantic. More than 100 w.arsh'os have gone ovex’ to the Allies since Italy’s eap’tulation.