ALLIES' TURN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24824, 22 February 1944, Page 5

ALLIES' TURN

TANK OFFENSIVE BEACHHEAD MOVE NAZI ATTACK FAILS ONLY ONE SMALL GAIN (Reed. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON. Feb 21 Allied tanks, counter-attacking in the Anzio beachhead in Italy, have broken into the German positions, reports the Algiers radio. The extent of the advance is not yet known. The British United Press correspondent at Allied headquarters in Italy says the Allies are now attacking in the beachhead after the failure of the German attempt to drive us back into the sea. The Germans have not made any fresh attacks for the past two days. Narrow German Wedge

It is emphasised at headquarters that apart from a narrow German wedge into our positions near C'arroeetto, which the Allies are now attacking, there has not been any change in our positions around the beachhead perimeter. The beachhead, nevertheless, is still producing some of the fiercest fighting of the whole Italian campaign

The commander of a platoon oi American tanks said the Germans were machine-gunning their own men in the beachhead when they thought the men were surrendering too fast. K esse 1 ring's mauled divisions have relinquished the initiative in tiie past 36 hours, says the Associated Press correspondent in the Anzio beachhead in Italy. He adds that the German losse.s are believed to be so great that they will be unable to launch another attack on a similar seale. American tanks and infantry have penetrated deeply into the east flank of the triangular salient which the Germans established at great cost. Allied Bombers Fill the Sky Since dawn on Sunday, the sky has been filled with our bombers, who attacked the German troops .still in the wedge they made at such heavy cost to themselves. T.'ir. beachhead was never more secure than to-day, says Renter's correspondent at the beachhead. The Allies have the situation well in hand. Kesselring'.s total gain* were under ."5000yds. The Germans in the attack down the Carro-cefcto-Anzio road used six divisions, and our counter-attacks wiped out part of the German gains which were bought at great cost during three days of the bloodiest fighting along a narrow salient. The rest of the enemy's penetration is now being rapidly reduced as our infantry and tank counter-attacks drive the German spearheads steadily back along the road. Vital Carrocetto Sector Night and day for three days the battle for the Anzio beachhead raged savagely on a narrow front of the C'arrocetto sector, writes a correspondent at Algiers on Sunday. All reports from the front emphasise that there has been some of the bloodiest fighting of the entire Italian campaign. Terrific casualties and serious losses of equipment: have been inflicted on the Germans for a total gain of about 3000 yds. The whole of the remainder of the beachhead remains firm. Nine German divisions are now reported to be facing the beachhead. The extent of the German offensive on the Albano-Anzio road can be gauged from the fact that six of the nine German divisions have been concentrated on this narrow front. Four German divisions have been used .so far, but there are still two fresh divisions in reserve. The lighting has been so ferocious in the past three days that troops on both sides must be tiring rapidly. Devastating Artillery Fire Another reporter describes the effect of the Allied artillery lire as devastating. Prisoners come into the Allied lines obviously shaken by gunfire. Some say they have not eaten for three days owing to the disorganisation of the supply lines by air and artillery bombardmen I.

Some enemy battalions lost CO per cent of their effectives. Renter's correspondent estimates that the Germans smce the start of the battle have suffered 2000 casualties. The Allies' artillery bombardments so disorganised enemy communications that, supplies are being dropped by parachute. The Allies took prisoner .'iOO Germans on Saturday, 'making a total of about 500 since I'Vbruary 1(5. The British took prisoner 100 Germans sheltering in a farm house. They were hungry, almost without ammunition, and dazed by .shell li ro. German dead lifter the main road south of Carrocetto. Frequently more than 100 can be counted within a small area.

Our losses in the bridgehead battles have not been light, hut the Germans, as the attacking forces, have taken a tremendous hammering, says a correspondent.