GAINS IN ITALY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25084, 23 December 1944, Page 8

GAINS IN ITALY

JiACNOCAVALLO TAKEN s CANADIANS PROGRESSING (Recti 11.80 p.m.) LONDON, Dec vW Canadians of the Eighth Army in Italy have captured the German stronghold of Bagnocavallo, about ten miles north of Faenza. The Allied communique says Canadians have broken enemy resistance north of Bagnocavallo. Advancing from their bridgehead over the canal, our troops have reached the River Senio on a broad front. Other forces have made gains north of Faenza against strong opposition. . New Zen .nders ar keeping up their pressure north-west of Faenza and have cleared another stretch of the east bank of the Sonio River. Eighth Army troops, after heavy have driven a deep wedge into the German positions north-west of Faenza. says the Exchange Telegraph correspondent in Rome Two Eight 1 Army forces, one of which is the New Zealand Division-, have met heavy opposition north of Faenza, but occupied San Silvestru, two miles northwest of Faenza, and ban p,etr r& J' al * J mile from the Senio 'liver.. They are row threatening the town of Castel Boiognese, four miles east of Imo'*• , There are no changes in the Kittn Army forward positions. FERN LEAF CLUB OPENED IN LONDON dominion servicemen (Special Correspondent) LONDON. Dcc. il The Fern Leaf Club, the new military club for New Zealand servicemen in London, was officially opened by the New Zealand High Commissioner. Mr W. J- Jordan, today, in the presence of a number of prominent New "Zealandera, including the New Zealand Minister of External Affairs, Mr Sullivan. This formal ceremony followed t!ie club's unofficial opening five days a<n>, for so great has been its need that every one ot its 120 beds has been occupied each night. Thanking Lady Freyberg and Colonel F VVaite. D.5.0., for all they had done to establish the club. Mr Jordon said that he was delighted when he heard ' that they were coming to London from Italy to relieve others of th© responsibility. • il .. Voluntary workers of the New Zealand Forces Club in Charing Cross Road had done a big job for five years, Mr Jordan added, and so had Lady Hewart at Kiwi House. But still there was a great need for further provision for New Zealanders. He paid a tribute to the English hosts and hostesses for their private hospitality, and also to the other service clubs, and wished the Fern Leaf Club every success. Colonel Waite explained that the Fern Leaf Club would deal particularly with New" Zealand prisoners of war ■when thev eventually reached London "We want this club to be a real home for New Zealand servicemen and women during their time in London," said Ladv Freyberg. "Through the splendid co-operation of the Ministry of Works we have been able to secure those five houses, which have been homes before Houses like these are not institutions and, even although they have now become a club, 1 hope that they will retain something of the feeling of home. Lady Freyberg referred to the "wonderful' gift" from the Canadian Red Cross'of a number of crosswork quilts, which helped to make the bedrooms so ./'attractive. * Lady Frevberg also read a telegram •"from my General," extending the best wishes of the Second N.Z.E.F in Italy 5 AUSTRALIAN MINERS NO TRADE UNION SUPPORT (Special Australian Correspondent) (Kecrt 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY Dec. -i'2 . The president ol the Australian Council of Trades Unions, Mr Clarey. and the secretary. Mr Monk, have flow?, to Canberra to meet the actingPrime Minister, Mr F. M. Forde, and other Federal Cabinet members to discuss the coal crisis. They will offer the Government the unqualified support of the council, representing 90 unions and 500,000 workers, in any action taken to deal with the miners who have defied the decisions of this week's conference aiming at a eoa l peace. The Sydne,. Morninp, Herald's correspondent on the coalfields says that the certainty Of losing the co-operation of the trade union movement is likely to cause the miners to reject any proposals for a general strike on the coalfields. The' Miners' Federation is in no position to. finance a strike, and retailers in mining towns are reported to be unwilling to "carry" strikers. However. until the miners return to work at the end of their* Christmas holidays the position on the coalfields wil! remain uncertain. WOMEN FOR OVERSEAS BRITAIN'S NEW POLICY (Recrl 6.35 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 21 The Secretary of War, Sir James Grigg, in a statement made in the House of Commons giving particulars of the alteration of Government policy regarding the posting of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service overseas, eaid the Government had decided not to post auxiliaries to India except as volunteers. It was not proposed to send women to Burma or West Africa either compulsoriiy or as volunteers. Apart from volunteers, no member of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service would be posted overseas to any theatre unless she was 21 years old or oyer, unmarried and medically lit for service abroad. Sir James added that no members of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service would be compuiMnly posted overseas until the House oaa assembled filter tiha recess*