STREET FIGHTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24775, 24 December 1943, Page 7

STREET FIGHTS

TANKS_ENGAGED STUBBORN ENEMY CANADIANS PRESS ON NEW ZEALAND SUCCESS By Telegraph—Press Association—-Copyright (Reed. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. The Germans are gradually* being driven out of Ortona, on the Adriatic coast of Italy, but are making a stubborn fight for the town. Eighth Army tanks and artillery are smashing the enemy's strongpoints hidden m ruined houses and Canadian infantry is pressing on from street to street. A German report sajd the Nazi forces had withdrawn several hundred yards after enduring a very heavy three-hour barrage and facing attacks supported by tanks. New Zea landers completely smashed another Gorman counterattack aimed at driving them backacross the road between Ortona and Orsogna, says the Algiers radio. German flame-throwers, shooting out tongues of flame 50 yards long, led the counter-attacking infantry and tanks. Fierce fighting is occurring all along the front between Ortona and Orsogna. The enemy, although fighting fiercely, is being forced back, says the Allied communique. In the central sector Indian troops made considerable propress. and an enemy attack in the mountains was beaten off.

A tank battle is still in progress in the streets of Ortona, says Renter's correspondent in Algiers. General Montgomery's armoured units, including Sherman tanks, are engaging a concentration of German Mark IV.'s left to defend the town. The correspondent adds that the town

is being taken from the Germans house- \ by-house and street-by-street. The Canadians are steathily creeping in across enemy-held positions on the east coast. ,v Dive-bombers softened up the German defences before the Canadians attacked with tanks and mortars on Monday evening. They were well into Ortona by mid-day on Tuesday, but mopping-up will be a slow process. German machine-gunners and snipers are likely to cause considerable trouble, and the whole area is thickly sown with mines and booby traps. Indians Advancing The tank battle raging between the German Mark I\ • tanks and our armour in the main thoroughfare of Ortona is probably one of the fiercest tank battles fought in the streets of an Italian town, says a correspondent at Allied headquarters. South-west of Ortona Indian troops have again advanced a little and are now more than a mile on the further side of the lateral road running inland to Orsogna. The Germans appear to have been surprised by the Eighth Army's thrust here. They left behind by the roadside nine tanks and several self-propelled, guns, all of which were captured intact. Ortona lies on a rocky shelf over- ' looking the Adriatic. It has a peacetime population of under 10,000 inhabitants, but its loss would deprive the Germans of an easy supply centre arm a convenient anchor for his Adriatic coast defences. The next junction of ani importance is Pescara, 13 miles up the coast. Sea and Air Operations A Navy commnuique states: ''Naval a<-tivitv continues in the Adriatic. Un Sundav British motor torpedo-boats captured two German schooners oft the Yugoslav coast and made prisoners or the crews." IIV - . , An air communique states: JMgnters and fighter-bombers flew numerous sorties over the battle area near Home a rid off the coast of Yugoslavia on luesda v. Enemy ground positions were attacked, his communications were disrupted. and a number of motor vehicles and rolling stock destroyed. Jerracina (on the const south of Rome) was again bomhed by our medium bombers. One enemy aircraft was destroyed rot the loss of fine of ours.

NAZI MEASURES IN ROME g. IS p.m.) LONDON. Dor. 23 With tlie increasing threat from the Allied armies to Rome, the German commander has issued a proclamation reminding the public that any change of domicile in Rome is prohibited. Changes are possible only in exceptional circumstances with police permission. Proprietors of private houses, boarding houses and hotels must keep near their doorwavs a register of all lodgers. Anyone harbouring unregistered persons is liable to punishment according to German military law. AEGEAN AIR RAIDS ENEMY SHIPPING ATTACKED (Bft'd. 5 35 p.m.) LONDON. Dec.22 Operations against enemy shipping in the Aegean Sea have been earned cut. by both day and night in the past week. announces the headquarters or the Royal Air Force in the Middle hast. Bad weather has made the observation of results difficult, but several small ships attempting to supply the enemyoccupied islands have been successful! v attacked by bombers of the R.A.F. and United States Air Force. On Sunday night R.A.F? heavy bombers attacked the dockyard at Salamis. in Southern Greece. Bursts were ohserved near the anti-aircraft defences and on other targets. Two enemy aircraft. a Heinkel 115 and Junkers > r . were destroyed. None of our aircraft is missing.