WITHDRAWAL FROM BANJALUKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 8 January 1944, Page 5

WITHDRAWAL FROM BANJALUKA

YUGOSLAV LIBERATION ARMY , (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) Rugby, Jan. 7. The Yugoslav People’s Liberation Army headquarters states that having successfully accomplished its task, its troops have withdrawn from Banjaluka. The enemy lost 680 killed, 700 wounded. 720 prisoners and a great quantity of war material. HEAVY BARRAGE London, Jan. 6. A correspondent of the British United Press says that the Fifth Army began its drive supported by an extremely heavy barrage and bombing and strafing from the air. A combined group of Canadians and Americans made one of the most important advances through difficult snow-caoped mountain terrain. They captured another mountain peak, making three peaks captured in two days. Canadians ol the Eighth Army captured a hill three miles beyond Ortona. They are now overlooking a coastal village eight miles distant on the road to Pescara. Fierce fighting continues in this coastal sector, where infantry are clearing out enemy nests south of the Foro River. Invader fighter-bombers attacking in the uervero area yesterday used tic,, tactics. Instead of dive-bomb-ing, they roared through narrow valleys as close to the ground as possible, gunning the German positions at 300 miles an hour. MIDDLE EAST AIR OFFENSIVE (Rec. 10.10 a.m.) Rugby, Jan. 7. A Middle East air communique states: ••On Wednesday night heavy bombers of the R.A.F. successfully attacked Rhodes harboui. Bombing was well concentrated and damage was caused to port facilities. Continuing bad weather again rendered difficult the destruction of enemy shipping attempting to supply occupied islands. However, R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. bombers and long-range fighters sank a number of loaded sailing ships intercepted near Monemvasia, southern Greece and north of Leros. Shipping in Palo harbour, on Nissyros Island, was attacked with unobserved results. From these and other operations two of our aircraft are missing.”