ITALIAN FRONT

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1945, Page 6

ITALIAN FRONT

LONDON, March 18. In seven months of lighting in Italy. Lovat Scouts collected three Military Crosses and live Military Medals as proof of their skill in patrolling as well as several mentions in despatches. The job is a specialist’s one, for which they trained two years in the Faroe Islands, Canada and now Italy. These hardy Scotsmen from the glens and estates of the Highlands were born with the skill of the hunt in their blood, and have been tought its application to the art of war. They are sent to probe intoGermans’ lines, using every piece of cunning they possess to outwit the Germans, who are always waiting for them. The regiment was foundde in 1900 by Lord Lovat, father of the present Brigadier Lord Lovat. The requisite medical category for Lovat. Scouts is not just Al, but “Al plus.” A force of three enemy destroyers or large torpedo-boats was detected on Saturday night to the north of Cape Corse, northern point of Corsica.

The British destroyers, “Meteor,” and “Look-out,” were dispatched to deal with them, and in a running light two enemy vessels were sunk. The action came at the encl of a series of successful bombardments of targets on the Franco-Italian frontier during the oast 10 days. On March 9 the British destroyer, “Milne,” fired upon an observation post and store-house scoring several direct hits. Two days later the French destroyer, “Basque” engaged the fort, while the United States desr troyer, “Parker” opened up on the troops. On the following day the “Basque” and the/“Parker” were in action against similar targets. On March 14 the French destroyer, "Simoun,” carried on the work and on the same night French patrol craft intercepted and damaged two German torpedo-boats. One was ’ sunk and the other lied. That night also the British destroyers “Milne” and “Meteor” bombarded the Port of Genoa. British motor torpedo-boats operating close inshore off Venice on Friday night engaged live lighters. Torpedoes were fired and all the enemy craft were seen to sink, one after a violent explosion;