CASSINO BATTLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24849, 22 March 1944, Page 7

CASSINO BATTLE

JEW ZEALAND GAINS bitter engagements (NZ EF Official War Correspondent) ' ' NEAR CASSINO, March 17 Bitter fighting continued in Cassino to-day, as the New Zealanders silenced one bv one many -points of resistance. By mid-afternoon all hut the southern e( ]ge of the town had been cleared, Ithough snipers on the slopes still hindered the movement of troops. British infantry had gained a firm foothold on Hangman's Hill, so named because of the gallows-like pylon of the funicular railway which surmounts it, au d added another .threat to the monkery already menaced by those above Castle Hill- Last night brought enemy interference by shelling and mortar lire only. Our artillery replied with heavy concentrations, which silenced the nebelwerfers early this morning. .Meanwhile, reliefs and consolidations were effected, and the engineers put in valuable work by securing the tank road into the heart of the town along Highway Six. The most important section of this was completed in ample time to permit,tanks to move forward, ; n spite of the craters and rubble, to support a .dawn, attack. Objectives Gained ]n a misty haze, New Zealand tanks prepared the way for the infantry with 15 minutes of concentrated fire. The battalion which opened the day's fighting was the one which took Castle Hill jn the first day's assault. The objectives were buildings and piles of wreckage'™ the south-west corner of the town, which concealed strong detachments of the enemy. In spite of persistent and harassing £ re) our men pressed on through indescribable masses of bomb-blasted stone. By 7.30 a.m. they had reached the location of the botanical gardens. Two hours later they had killed nearly a score of snipers, and had taken dozens of prisoners. Throughout the three days' struggle our men had been opposed by 'he cream of the German Army—paratroopers—but even these could not deny the New Zealanders their objectives. Fight for Railway Station

That portion of the town was cleared well before noon, and the second phase began. This time, :he attackers were the southern battalion, who yesterday killed over 50 Germans in a grim hand-to-hand battle for a church. This time they were required to capture and clear the" railway station and take loav features at the extreme left of the town, known as the Hummocks. They were supported by tanks, and met heavy and accurate fire from an anti-tank gun concealed near the Ducal Palace —a large square structure situated at a beiTd on Highway Six where it turns round the base of Monte Cassino—which formed the centre of the only pocket of resistance left in the town. At noon, our tanks reported enemy tanks sheltering in the rear of the palace, believed to be eight in number. Our artillery laid down fire with noticeable effect. This was the first contact with enemy armour, although our troops previously found the smashed remains of German tanks in the ruined 6treets.

Stifl Opposition Met The assault on the station proceeded in the face of stiff opposition. This key position which the Maoris took and lost to German armour almost a month ago, fell again to our infantry early this afternoon. This time tanks were on our side, and the enemy armour in the town failed to accept the challenge. Other points fell quickly. At 2.30 p.m. our men could be seen on the Hummocks clearing the final objectives. *The remaining daylight hours were spent in securing the newly-taken positions against possible counter-attack. Great assistance was given during both attacks by smoke which was laid down both by the artillery and the New Zealand infantry. The position on the hills is equally satisfactory. The New Zealanders who took Castle Hill pushed up the ridge and took 30 prisoners, who were hiding in a yellow iouse almost half-way to the monastery. Then they handed oyer to British troops from the Indian Division, who had to retire a short distance owing to shellfire. To-day they bettered and secured their position. Troops of the same formation carried out a brilliant move today, by which they gained a footing on Hangman's Hill. Two Remaining Pockets

Later reports state that bitter resistance is still being ofiered by the Germans as our troops proceed with mopping-up operations. Ihe main pockets are in the south-west corner of the town, where Highway 6 winds around the base of Monte Cassiuo. They consist of two groups, each of half-a-dozen houses, from which fire can be brought to bear on Castle Hill and the town. Both positions are almost completely encircled with troops on Hangman's Hill above and New Zealanders in near by buildings and on the slopes. This afternoon planes dropped supplies to troops grimly making good their hold on the exposed Hangmar.'s Hill. Much work was done last night, particularly by engineers who carried on "with bridging, filling and mine lifting. Expected enemy counter-attacks failed to develop in any strength. 'lhe New Zealanders were well prepared, but it not until nearly seven o'clock this horning that the enemv interfered. They were easily dealt with and withdrew, leaving prisoners and dead. Strongly-Held Points British troops holding a point above Castle Hill had a sharp clash with the enemy three hours earlier. A strong enemy force engaged them at very close quarters, while snipers infiltrated on tfl a ridge between our troops and the castle. The attack was repulsed before dawn. The New Zealanders are steadily improving their positions to-day for the elimination of the two remaining Pockets, which yesterday enfiladed our isiantry advancing on the station. 'Hen these fall Cassino town will be F'eared. Slightly to the left of the town Itself are the ducal palace and an 'icient amphitheatre, both of which •re strongly held in spite of heavy damby fighter-bombers and artillery, inemy dive-bombers made feeble and Successful attempts on a bridge •cross the Rapido. Great difficulty is being experienced | n evacuating wounded, who often have |° be carried down the hillside by re--7? before being placed aboard jeeps. I *"hich have been pitted by small arms mortar fire and have suffered conBderably, although plainly marked. doctors differ Health and youth's work A case of conflict in the opinion exPressed in a doctor's certificate and a -Port by a medical board came before p le Auckland Manpower (Industrial) rnmittoe yesterday. The appellant in i 'V Shepherd, aged 17. who "Pealed against the manpower officer's e "sal to grant him termination of his •rnploywont with the New Zealand Glass anufaeturers' Oompanv, Proprietary, Limited .Appellant said lie suffered from ronchiai catarrh, which was aggravated ? tho Just in which he worked, and ® produced a doctor's certificate stating Hot- 38 " *° oon tinuo in his present th he transferred to fact wnre!,o "sc department of tho Ifef or y Permission to terminate, was |ir" because a medical board v t' n<? manpower authorities Itoa d ''in fit for the work, said the ij) "Power officer's representative, Mr. •j, The medical hoard's report it; ® n ° details of the physical exnminaof appellnnt. |ij J ""t givin'i the reasons on which Slid' the medical board Hp the committee very much. a member, Mr. N. E. Crimp. « "ficision was reserved.