HEAVY FIGHTING

Grey River Argus, 2 February 1944, Page 5

HEAVY FIGHTING

IK WEST OF ITALY V ON BOTH SECTORS Both Sides Claim Successes [Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.J (Rec. 11.0.) / LONDON, Feb. 1. A British United Press correspondent reports: Some of the bloodiest fighting since the Nettuno landing has occurred in. the last forty-eight hours. The Germans have fought back heJ ce " ly. 'they paid a heavy price. There are fields strewn with hundreds oi German dead, and shattered, burntout enemy tanks. Many of tne tanks were destroyed by, seli-sacnlic-ing Americans who blew themselves up along with the tanks by means oi hand grenades. Other tanks were knocked out by Allied troops leaping on them and killing the crews by firing revolvers through observation slits. Very heavy hana-to hand fighting developed. In some sectors Allied troops ran short of ammunition. They closed with Germans tore weapons from their hands and killed them with their own arms. Berlin reports state that the Allies launched a full-scale attack north of the Anzio beachhead. These reports have not been confirmed. „ The British United Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters considers it very likely that the Filth Army will attempt to break through before the completion of defences which the Germans are known to be digging in along the Rome-Gaeta railway, between Cisterna and the AnzioAlban road. „ On Monday a German High Command communique stated: tne enemy has launched an attack nor tn and north-east of the Nettuno beachhead with powerful infantry and lank Later the German News Agency said: “Americans attacked German outposts in the Cisterna area (at the edge of the beachhead north-east of Nettuno), under cover of a morning mist on a seven and a-hali mile front, and advanced towards Cisterna. A determined German counter-thrust from the Hank cut off the American vanguards from the rear communications and 600 Americans were taken prisoner and the main fighting line was also completely restored. Ihe Americans suffered heavy losses. Renter's Algiers correspondent dedared: Allied troops repulsed a German counter-attack three miles south-west of Cisterna. In the Anzio beachhead the Germans are reported to be digging m along the railway three miles southwest of Cisterna'. Allied troops south-east of Nettuno secured a bridge across a river, three miles short of Cisterna, bringing them within eight miles of Cori and a road and railway winding along the base of the Lepini Mountains. ALLIED AIM AT BRIDGEHEAD. AGAINST ENEMY DEFENCE LINE. (Rec. 1.30.) LONDON, Feb. 1. Vichy radio states: . British, .and American forces maintain the initiative at the Nettuno bridgehead. The main attack of their Nettuno forces is at present directed against a German defence line running from Carrocetto for about ten miles northwards.

Quick Entry to Rome

ALLIED PLAN NOT RELEASED. LONGER STRUGGLE THAN EXPECTED. (Rec 1.30.) LONDON, Feb. 1. A representative of the combined American Press at the Fifth Army bridgehead sa' ,z s: After ten days ot adventure south of Rome the feeling of elation which grinned us after the fine landing has already given way to a feeling of determination. It is obvious to the world that our chance of invading and of taking Rome on the heels of a general German withdrawal from all of the areas as far south as Cassino and Minturno, has. just not come true. “Now, it is gonino- to be a question of hard fighting, and probably for weeks, instead of for days, before we reach our next gaol It is no particular fault of anybody, as far as we can see. Our men have proved in the last few days that, they can take it, in addition to giving it; ana we have now so much material here that the Germans at the best, must hope for another Tobruk, and one lasting sufficiently long to embarras our general strategy.”