FIFTH ARMY FRONT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 7 January 1944, Page 5

FIFTH ARMY FRONT

rough mountain territory ALLIED ADVANCE ON 10-MILE FRONT (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) London, Jan. 6. American and British troops of the Fifth Army launched an attack in rough mountain country. Advances averaging a mile in depth were made along a front of approximately 10 miles. Street fighting is in progress in San Vittore, where the enemy has converted houses into pillboxes. Stiff fighting continues in the Adriatic coastal sector. The advance of one mile mentioned in an Algiers communique was made in the face of stiff opposition. American troops entered San Vittore in darkness on Wednesday night and fierce fighting is still going on in the village, half of which has been captured. San Vittore is the key to the German defences at Cassino and the entrance to the Lii’i Valley. DEVASTATING ARTILLERY FIRE Devastating Allied artillery fire tonight is raking that half of San Vittore still in German hands, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters and adds that the Americans are preparing to sweep in to complete the capture of this mountain village. Crushing pressure is being maintained along the Fifth Army’s ten-miie fighting front. A series of British and American hammer blows with powerful artillery support is pushing the Germans back. Allied spearheads at some points have dug more than a mile into German positions. One wedge, threatening to outflank Cassino, is slowly creeping forward in the mountains west of Venafro. Another British force attacking the southern sector near a bend in the Garigliano river captured about 50 German prisoners. The Fifth Army began the new attack in the face of violent sleet and a rainstorm on a front extending five miles on either side of the Rome road from a point west of Venafro to a point west of Rocca. Light bombers on Tuesday night attacked chemical works at Torre de Piassiera and fires were left burning. Bad weather yesterday limited operations, but fighter-bombers attacked enemy gun positions in the Cervara area. One of our aircraft is missing. British destroyers on Monday night bombarded the Adriatic port of Pcsaro, about 80 miles due east of Florence.