Still Fight For Lost Cause In Italy

Northern Advocate, 20 April 1945, Page 4

Still Fight For Lost Cause In Italy

(Official N.Z.E.F. War Correspondent) MEDICINA, April 13. While our aircraft and artillery pounded enemy positions and lines of communication today, German paratroops who were hastily transferred yesterday to our sector, maintained a stout defence against our infantry and armour along the line of the Gainsa River.

New Zealand patrols which probed the high stopbanks of the river last night, found the enemy firmly dug in with a big weight of automatic weapons, and although today was on the whole quiet, the enemy made full use cf his guns and mortars and occasionally multi-barrelled ncbclwerfers, showing that he still is determined to fight here in Italy despite Germany’s hopeless position. Many times in the past the weather has favoured the enemy, but it has been on our" side in the present offensive and continues brilliantly fine, although unseasonably hot. A Spitfire of the Desert Air Force, while strafing German positions on the bank of the river today was damaged by enemy fire. The pilot, an Englishman, turned back over our lines but found he was losing height, so determined on a crash-landing on a road in the area occupied by New Zealand Divisional Cavalry. Just as he was about to land, however, he noticed a New Zealand despatch rider on the road and turned his plane into a field. The plane was wrecked, but the pilot escaped with a broken leg and minor head injuries.