OFFENSIVE IN ITALY

Grey River Argus, 8 January 1944, Page 5

OFFENSIVE IN ITALY

BY FIFTH ARMY Very Fierce Fighting [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] LONDON, Jan. 6.. “There has been no change in our positions on the Eighth Army front,” says a correspondent at Allied Headquarters in North Africa. “On Tuesday, in spite of very determined fighting, we captured a ISO-fooi- elevation which the Germans have been making a persistent effort to regain. Indian troops succeeded in occupying a road southwest of San Tomaso. A British United Press correspondent says: The Eighth Army began a drive, supported by extremely heavy barrage, bombing and strafing from the air. A group of Canadians and Americans made one of the most important advances through difficult, snow-capped terrain, and captured a mountain peak, making three peaks captured in two days. Canadians captured a hill three miles beyond Ortona. They are overlooking a coastal village eight miles distant on the road to Pescara. Fierce fighting continues in this coastal sector, where the infantry are clearing out enemy nests south of the Foro River. , T . Lieutenant-General Lesse is ab ready known affectionately to men of the Eighth Army, and correspondents sav that he is bound to become a popular commander. Speaking ot the new commander, General Montgomery said: “I shall hand over the Eighth Army with every confidence to an experienced fighting general. I would want to hand over to no better man, so the future of this army is good.” Bad weather limited air operations but fighter-bombers attacked enemy gun positions in the battle area. Destroyers shelled the Adriatic port of Pesaro, north of Ancona. LATEST REPORTS. fCist. -p- N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 1.5.) LONDON, Jan. 7. The fiercest fighting is going on on the Fifth Army front * at the northern end 'of the ten mile sector straddling the Venafro-Rome railway line, according to the Vichy radio. Americans are waging furious battles for heights dominating the road to Cassino and Rome. Paris radio reports that heavy street fighting continues in San Vittore. British and American forces resuming the offensive, made several local breaches, but the German line as a whole has not been broken. The Berlin radio claims there are French volunteers with the German forces in taly. It says that to-day s Berlin newspapers publish photographs of companies of French volunteers with a German air force motor detachment in a town in Northern Italy.