MOUNTAIN BATTLES

Grey River Argus, 11 January 1944, Page 5

MOUNTAIN BATTLES

IN WESTERN ITALY Fifth Army Progress VERY STIFF ENEMY .RESISTANCE [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] LONDON, Jan. 9. An Allied communique stated: — Fifth Army troops continued to make progress against stiff opposition. Four heights were seized and held against repeated enemy, counter-at-tacks. Elsewhere, in Italy there is nothing to report. A press correspondent stated: The, village of San Vittore is a shambles. We jyrested it from the Germans after some of the most'tigerish fighting since the original Fifth Army landings at Salerno. The clearing of the last Germans from the last houses was bitter work, but German resistance crumpled when two infantry forces which had been working their way through the streets met in the middle of the town and together stormed the remaining German defence nests.

Reuter’s Algiers correspondent stated: The Fifth Army has taken several hundred prisoners in its new drive, and scores more are being brought in dailw Many prisoners had pamphlets shot from the Allied gun Q in their pockets when they were captured. Allied fighter-bom-bers are leap-frogging San Vittore and striking against the next objective—Cervaro. This village, which is two miles north-west of San Vittore, is the last defensive position before Cassino. The Germans are hurriedly converting Cervaro into a fortress similar to San Vittore and San Pietro. Allied pilots have spotted troop concentrations and gun emplacements which, in spite of most unfavourable weather, have been subjected to heavy air attacks. The sth Armv is one-third of the way through the Germans’ defensive belt protecting the Cassino gateway to Rome. Fighting on this front has developed into battles for heights flanking the road to Cassino, where the Germans are stronglv entrenched. With the village of Giusta in Allied hands, the Fifth Armv is developing an attack against Montechiaia, a 1200 foot snow capped peak, north-west of Giusta, and one of three main peaks still barring the way to Cassino. Allied artillery at present is shelling Cervardo, which is two miles north of San Vittore, also high ground flankin-- both sides of the Cassino road. The Americans south-west of San Vittore are still battling for slopes of Monte Porchio, which is south of the Rome road. Americans one mile south-west of this point, engaged in hard fighting for Monte Cerjro. Several neighbouring heights in this area were captured. The Germans around Monte Cedro are firmly entrenched in a strong defence belt, some six miles deep. The battle is largely developing into infantry actions. This is because the Germans are so well dug in that shelling is not effective, except with a direct hit. The Germans in this sector are employing the Hermann Goering Division, which was recentlv resting behind the line.

The Official German News Agency’s military commentator says: “It may be deduced from the increasing activity on the Italian front that the enemy considers the time has come to launch a general offensive. The arrival of further reserves for both the Sth and sth Armies, also the transfer of Lieu-tenant-General Clark’s headquarters, warrant the conclusion that the present attacks are the transition stage to a large-scale assault against the German front in Southern Europe.” It has been revealed that British, commandos, besides special Belgian and Polish ttpops, have been fighting in Italy since the Salerno landing. An Allied air communique states: On Friday night bombers attacked the aircraft factor” at Reggio Smilia. On Saturday it was again heavily' and accurately bombed by strong forces of heavy bombers, escorted by long-range fighters. The airfield at Mostar, Jugoslavia, wa s attacked by other heavy bombers. Medium bombers were out in strength. Some attacked railway installations at Metkovic, while others made , heavy attacks on railway communications at Arezzo, Aseni and Ollineo. Fighters and fighter-bombers carried out many missions against troops, gun positions, rail targets in the Cassino-Stefano-Artina areas. Rolling stocx and motqr transport were attacked In the Aquilza district. On Thursday night intruder aircraft destroyed rolling-stock, and motor transport over a very wide area in Southern France and Northern Italy. They also shot down a number of aircraft over their own bases without loss. Ten enemy aircraft were destroyed for the loss of three of ours on Saturday, while it is now known that an additional two enemy aircraft were destroyed on Friday. German Account MONTE PORCHIA STRUGGLE. I (Rec. .9.50.) LONDON. Jan 10. Berlin radio said that there is fierce fighting going on for mountains that are barring the way to Cassino. The radio states that Monte Porchia has several times changed hands. The Germans have repelled repeated enemy thrusts against Monte Credo. It adds that fighting for Monte Majo and Monte Chiaia was equally fierce until German covering forces abandoned mountain slopes which were ploughed’ un by enemy artillery. The Germans have again dug in on the slopes of the nearby mountain. American forces are at present attacking these new German defences.