ALLIED THRUSTS

Grey River Argus, 22 December 1943, Page 5

ALLIED THRUSTS

THREE IN ITALY Better Grip on Roads NORTH ITALY FIGHTING [Aust. N.Z. Press Assn.l LONDON, Dec. 20. The Cairo radio stated that strong groups of British, American. Australian, Russian, Yugoslav and Greek prisoners of war, under the command of Italian officers. are battling against the Germans in Upper Italy. Fifth Army Progress TOWARDS CASSINO LONDON, Dec. 20. An Allied communique stated:—Troops of the Fifth Army continued their advance beyond San Pietro (six miles south of Cassino). Several rugged mountain positions were taken and the front. lines in some places 'were advanced as much as two miles. . ■ . , According to the United Nations radio at Algiers the Fifth Army line now runs from Venafro through San Pietro to Rocca. With San Pietro in its hands, it is pushing forward to threaten San Vittore six miles south of Cassino Pass guarding the main inland road northwards. The Germans are laying mines and boobytraps. A correspondent at Allied headquarters stated: Our patrols pushed forward along the road in the direction of Cassino and the small village of San Vittore, situated on high ground. Here fighting is taking place among extensive minefields. Quantities of booby-traps also have been cleared.

In the northern sector of the Fifth Army, the French are fighting an important part in the mountains. An advance of about two miles has been made. Not only are the Germans maintaining vigorous opposition but Allied troops hav e to overcome soggy, wooded ground. French troops from Senegal (Africa) are putting, up a fine show resorting to the use of knives and bayonets. During this advance there were indications that the Germans who usually bury their dead, left in a great hurry. The Germans, however, continue to fight with great determination to maintain a hold on the high features and slow up the advance at. every available opportunity. j 'I Reuter’s Algiers correspondent stated: Fifth Army spearheads are investing San Vittore, while the main forces are pouring through the Magnano gap. Most of the OrtonaOrsogna lateral road is in Allied hands. Ccnsalvi, a mile north of the road, provides a commanding springboard for future operations. The Berlin radio stated that a large scale American attack aimed at capturing Rome was believed to be imminent. Th» Rome radio announced that the Germans imposed a curfew in Rome from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eighth Army Advance CLOSE TO ORTONA LONDON, Pec. 20. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent statde: Indian shock troops are pushing north from Consalvi, which was captured to-d.ay, probing deeper into the German defences on the Moro River. The Indians are advancing through the hills on a 15 miles front and made ground rapidly until a blown-up bridge held them up. Canadian Sherman tanks nearer the coast have made a clean break-through and inflicted severe casualties on the German infantry and thrown them into utter confusion. The Canadians found the going so heavy they were unable to exploit the advantage gained. They broke into enemy positions, but th e infantry was unable to keep pace with the tanks. Many parachutists were dazed by the Canadian artillery barrage, but others outside the barrage fought fiercely. An Associated Press correspondent with the Canadians says that the battle for the Moro entered its final stages on Saturday. The Canadians, exploiting their driv e across the Or-tona-Orsogna road, closed in against the Germans, who fought stubbornly on the lower side of the road. The main body of Germans are believed to have withdrawn from the line.

The Eighth Army is probably very close to Ortona, and commands a considerable 'Stretch of the OrtonaOrsogna lateral road. Though. denied to the enemy it is as yet useless to the Allies.

Reports of the capture of Ortona and Orsogna are not confirmed in London. Press messages from the front report th e troops are pushing north from the lateral road but are unable to make rapid progress owing to the difficult country. In the northern sector of the Eighth Army front, the Germans still display fierce resistance. In the coastal area, our troops, supported by tanks, made short advances at one point and inflicted severe losses op the enemy. Since the opening of the Sangro battle, the Eighth Army has destroyed or captured 43 German tanks. It is estimated that the losses inflicted on the German Ninetieth Panzer Grenadier Division have been extremely high. Two Panzer Grenadier regiments, of which it was originally composed, 361st and 200th, each totalling about 2500 men, have been amalgamated, and it is believed that of the original 5000 officers and men 2400 have been killed, wounded or taken prisoners. Since the Sangro battle the Eighth Army have knocked out 43 German tanks, including thirty 22-ton Mark IV’s, reports the British United Press Algiers correspondent. German prisoners taken since the beginning of the Sangro battle are slated to number 1800. ALLIED AIR RAIDS INCREASE OF ACTIVITY RUGBY. December 19. Invaders yesterday successfully 'attacked supply dumps at Terracina, 55 miles south of Rome. Other aircraft bombed and strafed positions at Viticuso and the Mount Troccho area, where large explosions were seen. Marauders scored direct hits on a span of a bridge over the Var, west of Nice, which carries German sunolies to Italy. . Warhawks strafed a schooner and a launch at Split (Jugoslavia) and Italian aircraft strafed and bombea an airfield at Podoorica. Five of our planes are missing. LONDON, Dec. 20.

Key points of railway communications at Foligno, Pergugia and Trezzo in Central Italy were subjected to sharp effective attacks by medium bombers. Ternia railway junction was well covered with bomb strikes. Medium and flight aircraft were active over the ground battle area. A variety of harbour and shipping targets in the Adriatic and off the west coast of Italv were attacked. They included Split and Civita Vecchia. During these and other operations. 43 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Six-

teen of our aircraft failed to return to base, but some of these are believed to have landed in friendly territory. Spitfires destroyed six enemy aircraft in dogfights north of the Fifth Army battle line. .Others strafed a train in front of the Eighth. Army, causing a freight car to explode and setting fire to the entire train. FOOTBALL AT THE FRONT. (Rec. 7.35) ’ LONDON. Dec. 19. ‘ Probably for the first time in history a football teanx landed on a playing ground by parachute to keep an appointment with opponents. ' A British United Press correspondent says that the team was comprised of men of the’ Eighth Army, who during the last few -weeks had finished training with comrades. who are paratroops, end without incident they! baled out of transport planes, landed, folded their parachutes, stripped, and began a game, which was nlayed on a battlefield that the Eighth Army had seized in the advance from the Sangro River.