SANGRO CROSSING

Grey River Argus, 24 December 1943, Page 4

SANGRO CROSSING

General Freyberg REPORTS ON N.Z.E.F. ACTION WELLINGTON, Dec 23. Mr Fraser has released the toi lowing report from Genera Freybe g ] on the initial operations undertaken by the Second New Zealand Division U "The’ Second New Zealand Division rejoined the E.ghth November and has just taken part in the offensive which forced the crossing of the Sangro and broke the enemy’s winter fine. \ our Div - sian carr.“d out a mort diffi operation in a way which showed that the veterans of the desert and men who had not seen action before have become .a well-balanced fighting formation, excellently equipped and trained z for this campaign in Europe. Preliminary fighting -n advance of the Sandro was . carried offi across difficult country in very bad weather r,v the Indian Brigade under cur command, supported by New Zealand tanks and artillery. Fighting rearguard actions to which the German Army is now well accustomed, the Division contested, each river valley and hilllop village through .which Italian roads wend their way. Enemy resistance stiffened at the approaches to the Sangrp. British and Indian infantry of the Indian Infantry Brigade, supported by tanks of our Nineteenth Armoured Regiment carried out a most gallant attack. They crossed the rivtr’s upper reaches and captured high ground, whence the enemy had been able to observe our movements and brln- down artillery fire. South of the Sangro River our Fifth .and Sixth Infantrv Brigade.?, under Brigadiers Kippenberger and Parkinson deployed for the next phase of the battle. Then heavy rain fell and again brought - the river to flood level, and delayed the attack. Quite apart from the weather, the operation was most difficult as the wide riverbed was dominated by all the heights of the north shore. The plan was to carry out a night attack and troops were waiting ready for the river to fall. On November 26 the weather improved. Battle exchanges opened alono- the Eighth Army front on the night of November 27 with the New Zealand Division on the left flank. Moving forward in pitch dark our infantry crossed the river with the aid of poles and formed up on th e north bank at 2 a.m. and assaulted the heights. This attack by the Fifth and Sixth Brigades under an artillery barrage on a 6000-yard front, was brilliantly carried out. The enemy was driven from all our objectives, leaving many dead and over 300 prisoners behind. In the riverbed itself, the engineers worked all night and next day under intense shellfire, making tracks through and building bridges to get the supporting arms and tanks across, to secure the bridgehead. Until the bridges were completed only a few tanks could be got across owing to mud and quicksands, but before the enemy recovered from the initial surprise, artillery was brought forward and the infantry again advanced. A daylight infantry attack on high ground took the enemy by surprise and Castel Frentano was occupied. “By the capture of this hill town on the highest ridge overlooking the Sangro River, both the sth and 6th Brigades established themselves astride General Kesselring’s much vaunted winter line. There can be no doubt the enemy intended to hold his defensive system covering the line of the River Sangro. It is very strong, consisting of deep reinforced trenches and dug-outs and a complete trench system and electrically lit living quarters,- and the whole system was covered by extensive minefields and barbed wire. The men who stormed it would look back with satisfaction from this fortress of the hills and skilfully planned defences and realise what they had' achieved. ■ Tne battle of the Sangro is an important step forward, but the enemy is still fighting back hard and I must warn the New Zealand Government that heavy fighting lies ahead before the enemy can be driven from the north of Rome. "May I quote in this dispatch, a letter I nceived from the Army Commander referring to the part played by the New Zealand Division in the battle: ‘I would like to .congratulate the New Zealand Division on the splendid achievement of the last few days. Since the Division came into ihe battle line of the Sth Army aftei’ a long absence, it has been faced with fbrees of Inature and by a determined enemy in strongly prepared positions. The Division has dealt with the forces of nature and with the enemy in , a manner that is beyond all praise. The part played by the New Zealand troops in the battle of the Sangro should make those in the home country very proud of their soldiers serving in Italy. Please tell your officers and men how pleased I am with what they have done. Further tasks lie ahead, but having smashed through the enemy’s winter line we are now well placed toi tackle the enemy in the open. Good luck to you all. (Signed) B. Montgomery, General, Bth Army.’ “I am writing this account in my office truck in a forward area, waiting for the bombardment of another attack to begin. The moon is full, it is a cold, overcast winter night. Conditions are hard, but everyone is in excellent spirit? and I am glad to report that, in spite of strong enemy resistance, our losses to date have not been unduly high.”

counter-attack after counter-attack. Reports suggest that the Germans are paying heavily for this resistance. As the Allies go forward, the ground becomes' ever more thicklv covered with German dead. An idea of what happens to German counter-attacks is given by the story of one counterattack on a position held bv New Zealanders. It was intended to bush the Dominion men back across the Ortona-Orsogna lateral road. The counter-attack began at 3 am. Two flame-throwers went in first, throwing out tongues of flame nO yards long. Behind them were strong forces of infantry and tanks. New Zealand tanks knocked out one flamethrower and the other expended its flame on a position which the New Zealanders had left empty as a blmd.An Allied barrage then opened UP with everything from big gun.q to machine-guns. The attack was completely smashed, and one New Zealand maiof with much battle experf’ ience said afterwards that he had never seen so manv dead Germans in one place.

N.Z. FORCES REPEL ENEMY.'LONDON. Dec. 22... Algiers radio stated: New Zealanders completely smashed another .Gert? man counter-attack aimed at driving them across the road between Ortona and Orsogna German flame-throwers ’hooting out tongues of flame fiffyyards long led the counter-attacking infantrv and tanks. Fierce fighting is occurring all along the front between Ortona and Orsogna. ,