EIGHTH ARMY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25394, 27 November 1943, Page 5

EIGHTH ARMY

SANGRO BRIDGEHEAD POSITIONS IMPROVED FIERCE ENEMY COUNTERS (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 25. General Montgomery’s troops on the right flank of the liighth Army have unproved their positions on the north hank of the teangro River during the past 24 hours. The Germans have been launching fierce counter-attacks, but these were beaten off. One correspondent sums up the position by saying that “ we have won the battle to establish the bridgehead, and arc now fighting the battle to extend it.” The weather in the area is extremely bad, and, though less rain has fallen, it is extremely cold. More bridges over the Sangro are being built by sappers protected from air attack by anti-air-craft guns, and theie is an exchange of shelling between the Eighth Army guns and those of the Germans on the high ground beyond the bridgehead. North-west of Castel di Sangro the Allied forces have been aggressive and have occupied some high ground overlooking the town. The German garrison’s position is untenable, and it is likely that they are retiring from the town. There has been no change in the position on the Eighth Army front. Only bad weather is holding up the launching of a British and American offensive, says Vichy radio. Everything indicates a general attack soon. The Allies have assembled considerable forces south of the Sangro and Garigliano. Describing how the bridgehead across the Sangro was secured, Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army says sappers throughout the night constructed bridges, encountering only spasmodic fire, but when dawn broke the German artillery opened up against the bridges, which were then completed. The British advanced units crossed the bridges under a heavy barrage, repelled bitter German counterattacks, and prepared' the way for reinforcements.

General Montgomery stated: “We have got what we wanted. It was a very tough business, but the British soldiers have risen to great heights in the most appalling weather. Our bridgehead is secure.” Indian troops displayed great fighting qualities in the battles across the Sangro. They beat down fierce opposition in their sector.

The Eighth Army has taken Monte Nero, six miles south of Alfedena, Caprecotta, six miles north-west of Agnone, and also Valcocchiaro, in the Campobasso province. Wave after wave of German infantrymen, supported by heavy artillery, poured down from the 1000 ft heights north of the Sangro River in a vain endeavour to oust Eighth Army units from the 5£ miles long and the 1J mile deep bridgehead, states Reuter’s Algiers correspondent. Eighth Army troops, despite opposition, waded waist deep across the icecold Sangro to reinforce the first assault spearhead. Although the bridgehead has been established only in the past few days, the Eighth Army firmly holds the main road from the coast and strongly grips a flat SJ-mile coastal stretch.