SNOW AND MUD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25385, 17 November 1943, Page 3

SNOW AND MUD

PROGRESS IN ITALY MAIN FORCES PINNED DOWN AMERICANS YIELD GROUND (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 16. For the second day running snow and mud have pinned down our main forces over long stretches of the Italian front. Twelve miles inland from the Adriatic, Eighth Army troops have gained some high ground near Atessa, towards the Sangro River, but on the other side of the Apennines German counter-attacks above Venafro have forced the Americans to yield some of their advanced positions in the hills. The main air offensive yesterday was outside Italy. Liberators and Mitchells attacked two large airlieias at Athens in Greece and both targets were well covered by bombs, considerable damage being done. Axis reports claim that Allied warships and transports are concentrating off Naples, in preparation for a new landing behind the German positions on the west coast of Italy. They are also forecasting a new Eighth Army offensive.

Meanwhile, according to Allied correspondents, the Germans are carrying out a violent “scorched earth ” policy. Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army says that night after night the sky over the mountains behind the enemy lines is lit by a red glow. The Germans are setting fire to villages, from which they are removing everything of value, as well as destroying every house in which British troops might possibly be billeted. They have already driven every inhabitant, from the oldest woman to the youngest child, from seven villages. The Germans are destroying all the facilities in the harbours of Pescara and Ortona. and have blown up all the bridges over the Sangro.

The Germans are shelling the southern half of the Fifth Army front. The enemy was so palpably disturbed at the threat to his right flank that he rushed up troops of the Twenty-ninth Panzer Grenadiers north of Isernia. Reinforced by these troops, the Germans launched three counter-attacks, but everywhere were repulsed. They left prisoners in our hands, and suffered severe casualties. An air communique states that nigut bombers on Saturday night attacked rail targets in the French Riviera, and light bombers attacked the harbour of Civita Veechia. Fighter-bombers attacked railway targets, tanks, and motor transport yesterday in Northern Italy and Jugoslavia. Fighters carried out offensive patrols over the battle area. Nine enemy aircraft were destroyed. One of our planes is missing.