WEATHER IN ITALY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24832, 2 March 1944, Page 5

WEATHER IN ITALY

IMPROVEMENT OCCURS INTENSE GERMAN SHELLING (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 1

The weather has cleared up over the Anzio beachhead in Italy, and a correspondent states that it is likely the Germans will soon launch another fullscale offensive against our defences. A communique from Allied headquarters states that the Germans pushed hard against one side of the beachhead at Anzio yesterday. The Germans made two attempts to reach' our defences without success, and then exerted strong pressure on the eastern side. We took some prisoners. An airfield north of Rome was attacked yesterday by medium bombers. Our bombers also attacked railway centres, while fighters and fighterbombers went for troop concentrations and attacked motor transport. The Mediterranean Air Foffre flew 700 sorties during the day. Enemy activity over the Anzio beachhead was confined to about 30 aircraft. German long-range guns, sited around the beachhead perimeter, yesterday subjected the Anzio area to the heaviest bombardment since the Allied landing, says the correspondent of the combined British press. The guns opened up before dawn, dropping shells of all calibres on the town and harbour. The bombardment, after ; five hours, showed no signs of slackening. The enemy, under cover of the bad weather during the past few days, seems to have brought up more big guns. The German bombardment, says the Associated Press correspondent, was not directed against any give:n point,. but was scattered over a wide area. Anzio now is an army town, states a correspondent who has revisited it and noted the contrast between its-appear-ance immediately after the Allied landing and its present busy and battered character. One of the first things the correspondent noted was that the streets had been renamed, the Piazza Mussolini having become Piccadilly Circus, and others Regent Street, Hyde Park Corner, and other familiar names. A military policeman explained that it was "more homelike." The town was full of soldiers, mostly wearing their tin hats because of the attention given to it by German longrange guns, including "Anzio Archie." There was a constant stream of lorries, guns, jeeps and trucks from the landing craft to the distribution areas forward. CASSINO MOUNTAINS GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED LONDON, Feb. 29

Reuter's correspondent reports that the enemy made" some penetration into our positions on the main Fifth jtoruy front in the mountains north-west™ of Cassino. but were later repulsed. The Vichy radio quoted a Berlin military spokesman a,5 saying that General Clark launched a sudden offensive on the Cassino front, and the German defence line was still warding off mass Allied attacks.

lieuter's correspondent states that no news of such an attack has been received from Allied sources. British, Canadian and Polish troops 011 the Eighth Army front have been involved in fairly heavy . skirmishing. German artillery fire has been particularly heavy on the Adriatic coastal sector. VIEWS IN FREE ITALY BADOGLIO REGIME OPPOSED LONDON", Feb. 29 The six political parties in Free Italy which called a ten-minute strike for next Saturday telegraphed to the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, as follows: "The permanent executive of the Junta of Liberated Italy assures you that, contrary to the information you have received, the Italian people and armed forces will contribute to the common cause a much more important war effort than at present as soon as Italy is accorded the liberty which is the purpose of the war." The spokesman for the three Left Wing parties—the Communist, Socialist and Action Parties—announced that the Italian Confederation of Labour has promised its support to the strike, which will be extended to shop workers as well as to factory workers. The strike has been called as a protest against Mr. Churchill's statement guaranteeing provisional support for the Badoglio Government until Rome is reached.