EIGHTH ARMY

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1944, Page 5

EIGHTH ARMY

ON NEW OFFENSIVE Greater Activity in Italy LAus. & N.Z. Press Assn 1 (Rec. 12.35.) LONDON, May 11. Vichy radio states: The Eighth Army in the Adriatic sector has begun a new offensive. The offensive has thusfar been contained by the German defenders. Vichy radio also stated: Great activity is reported along the wnole Italian front during the last twentyfour hours The Germans have attacked on the Anzio beach-head. They have improved their- positions southwest of Cisterna.

Thursday’s communique from the Allied_Headquarters in Italy reports: Patrols have been active on all fronts. They inflicted casualties on the enemy and took prisoners. LONDON, May 10.

Enemy mortars are active northwest of Cassino causing Allied casualties.

Artillery has been active at the Garigliano and the Anzio beach-head. A Reuter correspondent stated: Allied troops are pushing forward across the slopes of the Apennines close behind the retr.eating' Gennan Tenth Army making new advances around Monte Maiella. Allied troops since last Saturday occupied fifty square miles of mountain country including a number of important heights. In addition to occupying Palena they took possession of the town of Gamberale. and the village of Fallscosa and also occupied a number of high points between Palena and San Angelo. The Allies are making a triple thrust into the mountain sector only a few miles east of Kesselring’s main supply route, through Sulmoha. The German withdrawal is believed to have been forced upon them by Allied successes in recent weeks. Latest front-line dispatches report the Germans are still falling back. Enemy movements have been observed south of the Allied advance and west of the Sulmona-Castel di Sangro highway. Allied artillery acted as soon as the movements were discovered.

Enemy patrols in the Adriatic sector are probing the area two miles east of Tollo where the Germans were forced to withdraw after a clash iri which they suffered casualties. U.S. DESTROYER SUNK. (Rec. 10.10.) WASHINGTON, May 10. The United States Naw has announced that the American destroyer “Lansdale” has been sunk In the Mediterranean on April 20, as the result of enemy aircraft attacking it. The casualties were moderate. Survivors said two German torpedo ’planes attacked, both of which were shot down by flak. The crews manned the guns until the decks were awash.