RAPIDO CROSSED

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1944, Page 5

RAPIDO CROSSED

ALLIED OFFENSIVE PENETRATES GUSTAV LINE Eighth Army Joins Fifth TAus & N.Z- Press Assn.2 [AUS - LONDON, May 13. On Thursday night about 11 o’clock General Sir Harold Alexander launched a powerful attack against the Gerrmns’ Gustav line. A special communique from General Alexander says the attack began after a heavy artil]ery nrepai’ation, and it extends alon„ the whole front across Italy. The Fifth and Eighth Armies are both engaged. The Eighth Army was moved from the Adriatic sector and is tHacking west of Cassino, up the Liri Valley. The Fifth Army is attacking in the central sector to clear mountains ahead. The regrouping of the Allied Armies was carried out without enemy interference, . having been covered by continuous air action and patrol activity along the whole front. The Eighth Army came across the Apennines. Complicated heavy road and rail movements of men and material were smoothly carried oil. This made heavy calls on all the administration services. All the Allied formations were involved. Despite bad weather and difficult terrain, the regrouping was accomplished on time. A Reuter correspondent stated: General Alexander brought off a sudden surprise blow against the German defences in the Liri Valley by concentrating both the Fifth and Eighth Armies, supported by armour, . gunfire and air power, between Cassino and the sea. Thousands of guns opened up at 11.30 p.m. under a bright starlit sky and pounded the German positions for hours while British, Dominion, Indian, and Polish troops, with the aid of the late moon, formed the spearhead of the Eighth Army’s initial task of cracking the formidable Gustav Line. This line, has been held throughout the winter by the Germans against repeated assaults. It consists of a series of strongly fortified positions on the main sector of the Fifth Armv front, running thirty miles from the mouth of the Garigliano to Santa Elia, in the mountains above Cassino. A great mass of guns was concentrated for the first forty minutes against German batteries and mortar positions, and then was swung round to engage enemy positions on a wholesale scale while our troops swarmed to the banks of the Rapido River.

The “Daily Mail’’ savs the offensive opened under a barrage of 2,400 guns. The Associated Press says that the attack was launched along a front running roughly from Cassino westwards to the Gulf of Gaeta. The Liri Valiev and the upper part of the Garigliano form a bottleneck beyond Cassino through which Allied armies must force a wav before reaching the main road to Rome and before thev are able to' link up with General Clark’s men in the Anzio beaeh-head. The Fifth Army, on the Tyrrhenian coastal flank, is driving horth-eastward to clear the mountains. Marshal Kesselring is said to have several more lines of defence behind the Gustav Line, of which Cassino is the kingpin. The German divisions in Italy are reported to number twenty-five. They are now solidly tied down. If the Allies are unable to register a significant advance the freezing of these German divisions must affect other operations. It mav take days and pernaps weeks in the first fierce fighting before the Germans use up their immediate supplies.. . Correspondents emphasise that tms battle is bound to be a slow, frontal, uphill fight for many days to come and spectacular results should not be G "'rhe offensive was launched from a cemetery. The most advanced points in the line were situated in a cemetery and previously soldiers removed the coffins from the crypts, whose thick walls offered the best shelter The droops then went to sleep', ana when they awoke in the night the coffins were replaced. Allied guns opened the barrage at exactly 11.30 pan. and against one narrow front alone about 8,500 shells were hurlen against the Germans in three minutes After the attack, German guns went into action in seven minutes, but the shelling was very weak. By 3 a.m. on Friday thousands of American and French troops had pushed forward nearly two miles to a small town. German shelling did little damage in the eariy stages. The cemetery, however, suffered baaiy from the enemy’s mortar fire, but there were no longer any troops in the crypts. Allied casualties were light in the first phase of, the battle. A number of prisoners captures, north-west of Cassino are fanatical members of the Ist Parachute Division, aged mostly 17 and 18. The Germans are reacting very vigorously .on high ground between Monte Cairo and Cassino. For weeks past the Germans revealed nervousness. Night after night they have sent patrols in desperate efforts to find out who was in the opposite lines. Allied strategy was so subtle that at no stage did the Germans know what they were up against. Brigades were switched over so fast that one night Germans would find New Zealanders in the line ond on the next would be startled to find Indians there. Day after day ihP enemy could not conceal his apprehension, and when the attack opened he was still unable to determine where the blow would fall. Rritish Dominion and Albea trnons are fighting in the Eighth Army The Ittack is covered by the Mediterranean Tactical Air Force. Other aircraft joined m for the preliminary bombardment and raided the enemy’s 'communications behind the froffi At this stage it is not possible to say how the attack is going.

enemy outnumbered. "LONDON, May 12. A Reuter correspondent inltaly ofptprl- Warships in the Gulf of Capta fired broadsides into German flnnk defences, which are anchored flan * difficult mountains. Some of among mincu n sQooft and lt j S against these that’the warships direct th The Army’s .opening barrage gave the Eighth. Army an opportunity •R l A°nido e ßdver ie The operations of the Rap id R when the moon Wer P e and the y riv”r had been crossed rose and r 1 ±.„ hfor .| inm b er s carried s "'?™n s „n'int attacks agdSt gun posl?.“L P P TJehtand medium bombers t’° n >1 in and pounded the heavilyffenched wired, and mined Gustav “Daily Express’’ correspondent, ensive! draws 2 ! comparison tMan pfy th ej'his comparison,” he says, is

an indication that for this battle we greatly outnumber the enemy. We nave more guns, tanks, and aeroplanes, and, most of all, more men. It is the infantrvman who will fight this battle. His air colleague m the next few days cannot do much to helpr EIGHTH ARMY'S RIVER I CROSSINGS. (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, May 13. A Reuter correspondent with the Eighth Arm v says: Bitter infantry fighting was going on on Saturday night on the German side of the Rapido and Garigliano Rivers, where Allied troops have crossed on a broad front. Eighth Army troops swarmed across the Rapido River on an eightmile front between Cassino and Liri. They also drove westwards- through mountains above Cassino and crossed the Garigliano River. The river crossings were accomplished in the strength that they had planned, and with less casualties than had been feared. The enemy • with withering mortar and machine-gun fire, delayed some crossings. Troops assailed heights around Monte Cas-, sino. They secured two important objectives behind the monastery overlooking an enemy supply route. Another press representative at Advance Headquarters reports: Eighth Army forces in the first twelve hours of the assault crossed the Rapido and forced back German forces from outr er defences of the Gustav Line. Eighth Army forces occupied San Angelo, 2J miles south of Cassino, and in the centre of the Rapido front, but it is not an integral part of the Gustav Line. British officers described the battle as a small-scale Cassino. The building up of an Eighth Army bridgehead on the west side of the Rapido is continuing. Troops there are rapidly massing quantities of material for a frontal assault against the Aurin defences of the Gustav Line.

AMERICANS MAKE CAPTURES. (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, May 13. A correspondent of the British Associated Press at Allied Headquarters says. The Fifth and Eighth armies, in their major offensive, pushed forward to a depth of as much as two to three miles in some places. American forces captured Damiano Hill in the Liri Valley, five miles north of Minturno,' and an adjacent Hill. American forces also re-oc-cupied Ventosa in the face of a bitter resistance. Americans, with tank support, captured Ceracoli, one mile south of Damiano, and additional hills west and north of Minturno. The American forces have repulsed a' whole series of local counter-attacks. They captured about two hundred prisoners. EIGHTH ARMY PROGRESS FRENCH SHIELD LEFT FLANK (Rec. 1,12) LONDON, May 14. The German Overseas News Agency’s commentator, Praegner, reports that German forces have evacuated Castel Forte, but official dispatches from Allied sources do not claim the capture of the town. A British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Army says:— Following mopping up of San Angelo, separate bridge-heads across the Rapido River appear to have been consolidated into a firm penetration of 1000 to 1500 yards into forward defences of the Gustav Line The Eighth Army progress in the Liri Valley is slow. This is due to a vigorous German resistance. Eighth Army forces are making a bid to outflank Cassino from the inland end of the front. The French forces who took Monte Faito, took prisoner nearly 600 Germans. A French advance through the Brunei Hills is shielding the left flank' of the Allied Liri Valley thrust from harassing gunfire.

FRENCH TAKE STRONG POINT IN GUSTAV LINE. (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, May 13. French troops of tl?e Fifth Army have captured the crest of the 2500 ft. Monte Faito. This is a strong point in the Gustav Line. The French have also moved against neighbouring heights. FOG ON SATURDAY OVER BATTLEFIELD. '(Rec. 11.40.). LONDON, May 14, . A correspondent in Italy writes: An Allied bridge-head is established■across the Rapido River. Marshal Kesselring’s outposts on the Gustav Line have thus been pierced. Throughout Friday and on Friday /light there were no counter-attacks in the area. Fog hung over .the Liri Valley most of tfie day. It hampered the Hun just as much as it hampered the Allies. The visibility was still bad on Saturday over the entire Lin Valley. “ ' ... , . On the left flank of the Allied attack. French troops, under the command of the Fifth have captured one of their main objectives,' Monte Aito. The Germans still display arrogance. Those so far captured are mainly young Nazi fanatics. The correspondent says: Polish troops magnificently beat _ off five solid German counter-attacks on Friday To-day the Poles continued to figh't bitterlv for the ground which commands the Liri Valley., So far there has been no major fighting in, Cassino town itself. Friday night ,was regarded as quiet, but 'the boom and crash throughout the night made it plain, that Allied guns alone both fronts gave the Hun another solid hammering.

EIGHTH ARMY COMMANDER’S EXPLANATION.

LONDON, May lj2. The Eighth Army commander, Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese, said the defences they were attacking were the most formidable British forces had met in this war. He said* the present offensive differe from previous attacks by the Eighth Army, in that the task is of assault and breakthrough in turn of a senes of natural defensive positions, strongly held and long prepared, each or which the Germans will cling to until forced out. The immediate objective is the Gustav Line which has been heavily fortified for many months past, and includes modern concrete defence works in many places. Behind this lies the Adolf Hitler Line, another strong defensive position, which Hitler’s troops will be ordered to hold to the last man. Progress must not be judged in terms of advance of so many miles, but by successive defence lines to be broken through and strong points to be captured. Success would only be achieved by serious hard fought encounters in which the infantry would have strong artillery and armoured and the backing of powerful British and American Air F'orces. Certain Divisions, formerly part pt the Eighth Army have returned to that Command, and fresh formations have been absorbed. The Army has been training and preparing for. the new attack. Divisions have been rehearsing their roles, and considerable reserves of stores and supplies have been built up.” THE BEACH-HEAD. LONDON, May 12. Berlin radio has quoted the following German High Command announcement: “The enemy, under cover of a smokescreen, launched fairly strong attacks at five points in

, the Nettuno beach-head. The thrusts i were directed against the northern frings of the Vallicelle Grandi wood and also against the Garano Cemetery.” ANZIO REINFORCED LONDON, May 14. The German News . Agency s war correspondent in Italy say’s: — The intensity of the artillery fire on both sides of the Anzio bridge-head is growing. Allied preparations at Anzio are still going on. Men and ; material are still being landed. Enemy Counter-attacks RESISTANCE GREATER THAN EXPECTED. (Rec. 6.30) LONDON. May 13. A British United Press correspondent says: The German resistance alon£ the thirty miles of the,, battle front is uqw stiffer than it was originally expected to prove. The Germans are unleashing wave after wave of counter-attacks. They are throwing in tanks and self-propelled guns, and also heavy mortars and artillery An Allied spokesman stated: The Gustav Line,is as deep as ten miles lin some places and it would require the very hardest fighting to break through it. A correspondent of the British United Press with the Fifth Army stated that flame-throwers and every other weapon the Germans can lay their hands on are being used in an effort to stem the new offensive on the Garigliano sector, where the Allied troops have already advanced nearly two miles. The Germans since daylight on Friday sharply increased their artillery fire, but a comforting feeling came with the sight of the steady swelling stream of Allied aeroplanes. These are continually smashing German gunners and other enemy positions. ~ The Eighth Army forces above Cassino are now meeting with very fierce resistance from the German First Parachute Division. Cassino is itself quiet. It is not under direct Allied attack. The Germans in the lower Garigliano River area are holding out strongly in Castelforte. Against this place Fifth Army forces are thrusting, following the capture of San Sebastiano. The Americans at one point have had to evacuate a • captured position. The American got a foothold in a town but were pushed out. Another Allied column encircled two-thirds of the town.

A correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting System at the front reports that a ver v hard enemy count-er-attack (began at dawn ,on Friday and Allied troops were driven back at some points. It is going to be another battle of endurance, he said. Another correspondent said: On Friday an attack was in progress against the entire Gustav Line from the Gulf of Gaeta to plains .below Pescara. The main push appeared to be against the defences covering the Via Casilina and the Appian Way, leading to Rome. ENEMY’S SUPPLY SHORT. LONDON, May 12. Kesselring’s roads are deserted in the daytime. There is no such thing as a German road convov near the front—just odd vehicles travelling by I night. The Algiers radio reported that Allied aeroplanes to-dav attacked seventeen targets on the Italian west coast and also north of Rome. No enemy air resistance was reported all day. There is a bridge blown up on every railway route and every major line is blocked, usually at more points than one. The Germans .at sea have not dared to use anything larger than a 300-ton vessel. Even caiques and schooners sail onlv at night, hugging the coast and sheltering in the daytime in coves. The Germans, ■ therefore, in the course of the past few weeks’ lull, have, been able to get through only enough to live on. It now remains to be seen if they have enough to tight on, but, whatever the air forcesjiave done in the last month, it will not save a single infantryman’s life. Latest Report RAPIDO BRIDGE-HEAD | BEING BUILT UP. EXTENSIVE AIR ATTACKS (Rec. 12.6) /LONDON, May 14. An Allied headquarters communique on Sunday stated: The attack against the Gustav Line is making progress, against Very jstiff resistance, as had been anticipated. The Rapido River was crossed at 3 a.m. on Friday. The building up of the Eighth Army bridgehead across the Rapido River continued during Saturday night. We took some hill features on the Fifth Army front. We held them against a counter-attack. , The peak of Castel Forte was captured after hard fighting. Naval support continues to be given to tne left flank of the Fifth Army. An American cruiser, escorted by two 1 destroyers, sdocessfully bombarded concentrations at Itri on Saturday, and heavy enemy guns in the same area. Medium bombers and neavy bombers continued attacks against jail communications on Saturday m north and central Italy with good effect. Light bombers and. “ghterbombers flew 'many sorties in anect support of the ground forces attacking gun positions, motor transport and bridges. Much road transpor was also destroyed. In Yugoslavia our fighters maintained battle nne patrols, and several enemy planes. Allied night bombers on Saturday night bombed Orvieto, Arezzo and dthPr railway centres Twelve enemy planes were shot down in these operations. Eight of our planes are missing. Our night fighters destroyed an additional three enemy night raiders during a <hort alert in the Naples area on Saturday night. We flew over 2800 sorties. About 60 enemy planes were sighted over the battle area m day light.

FURTHER FRENCH GAIN (Rec. 1.10) LONDON, May 14. A Reuter correspondent at advanced Allied headquarters in Italy savs - The French troops have captured a village, Monte Maio, seven miles nbrth-eaist of Mihturno, and four miles north of Castel Forte. The French have also captured two other villages. EOXDUS FROM ROME. REFUGEES WALKING . NORTHWARDS. (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, May 13. The German News Agency says: There are endless columns of refugees now streaming northward from Rome. Many’ thousands of them are travelling on foot. TOUGH JOB AHEAD .FOR EIGHTH ARMY. NEW YORK, May 14. The “Herald Tribune’s” Naples correspondent points out:. The Sth Army is facing a difficult job in consolidating the bridge-head, as the enemy guns, hidden, in the hills overlooking the Liri Valley, are heavily ’shelling the river. The crossing of the Liri Valley is vitally important, because it is a natural geographical approach to Rome. It is flanked

both sides by formidable mountains, where the Germans are firmly entrenched. In addition the enemy has thrown two barriers across the valley—the Gustav Line and five miles to the rear of Adolf Hitler Line. The correspondent adds: The advarices made have cost dearly. They do not represent any significant penetration,, but the Allied commanders envisaged a long campaign of attrition.

PORTS BOMBED ON WEST OF ITALY.

(Rec. 10.40.1 RUGBY, May 13The R.A.F’s. nart in the preparation for the battle in Italy has not been less important than is the present day-to-day co-operation, writes an air correspondent. “For weeks past, bombers have been pounding the west coast ports of Leghorn, Piombino and San Stefano, night bv night, interfering with the unloading of enemy supplies brought down the coast from Genoa. These ports have increased in importance, because of the chaos caused to German land communications bv incessant bombing. Porto Feejo on the Island of Elba, has now been under forty-eight hours continuous bombing Most of tne R.A.F. Spitfire squadrons were busyescorting' medium bombers over battle areas, but it was a disappointing dav for them, as onlv one solitary enemy aircraft was sighted between dawn and dusk, so complete is our air supremacy. The desert air force was filling the traditional role of tactical co-operation squadrons. Spitfires, Kittyhawks. Mustangs and Baltimores flew sorties against enemy gun. positions, and Boston bombers nightstrafed* enemy road communications.

AIR RAIDS IN NORTH ITALY LONDON, May 14. A message from a Naples correspondent stated: Allied Mediteiianean Air Force heavy bombers again attacked enemy concentrations in northern Italy. Fortresses and Liberators attacked enemy communications in continuance of their plan to destroy Marshal Kesselring’s communications. Fourteen railway targets were bombed. It is believed Fortresses cut the Brenner Pass line from Germany. Liberators attacked railway yards between the Apennines .and the River Po. Light bombers and fighter-bombers attacked north and south of Rome in direct support of the ground battle. Between 20 and 25 enemy aircraft were seen. They were the first encountered since the battle opened. Spitfires destroyed three FW _lo9’s. Warhawks got two ME 109’s. Three Warhawks are missing.

ENEMY RAID IN CORSICA LONDON, Mav 14. Two Allied aerodromes in Corsica were bombed by the enemy on Friday night. German Estimate . ATTACK UNLIKELY TO BE DECISIVE. ALLIED LANDINGS EXPECTED. (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, May 13. The German News Agency on Saturday morning admitted Allied forces had broken through at several points in the German-held Liri Valley below Cassino, but the Agency claimed that the attackers had nowhere reached the actual German defence system. The German News Agency says: Approximately four British divisions and five American divisions are participating in the battle. These operations in Italy, in spite of their scale and extent, are unlikely to be the decisive offensive to which the Allies have so often referred. It is much more probable. that the attack will prove to be only a diversionary operation, enabling the Allies to launch another attack with five fullyequipped 1 divisions that are being held in reserve in Italy. These divisions are equipped for what is expected, to be a landing on the Italian coast.

AMERICAN COMMENT. LONDON. Mav 12. The offensive in Italv is regarded in Washington as the opening .of a series of land offensives that will soon .subject the entire Wehremacht to remorseless pressure from a number of different directions,, New York “Sun’s” Washington correspondent, Glen Perry. Observers believe that the attack is part of a much larger project, embracing the Allied forces in Britain, Russia and elsewhere. The new attack marks the raising of the curtain on large-scale ground troop activity. The air war over Germany has been the overture, but now the actors are actually on the stage.