AMERICAN GAIN

Opotiki News, Volume VI, Issue 426, 21 December 1943, Page 1

AMERICAN GAIN

SAN PIETRO FALLS NEAR ROME ROAD RUGBY, Dec. 19. With the Americans’ capture of San Pietro, at the. head of the 20mile Liri Valley, in. Italy, the Fifth Army now controls the head of the Liri Valley leading to Rome. Ten miles down the valley lies the German stronghold of Cassino. Tanks are likely to be used increasingly ' as the Fifth Army drive develops along the comparatively flat country of the valley. A correspondent says it is officially announced that the Fifth Army has already advanced a mile north of San Pietro, where, as everywhere else the Germans are fighting in a very determined manner, counterattacking at every opportunity. Three miles- north of Filignano the Americans occupied the mountain village of Ceruasola, 2000 ft. up. On the Eighth Army front hard fighting is continuing and our troops are firmly established in most places along the Ortona-Orsogna road. The village of Pioggio Fiorito, eight miles from Totona and miles from Orsogna, has been captured and we have improved our positions. Short advances have also been made in the centre of the Fifth Army front and along the northern sector. Some success has been achieved by French troops, among whom are , Moroccan sharp-shooters. Heavy Fighting' on Eastern Sector “Advances haye been made at several points on the Fifth .Army front,” states a communique from Allied Headquarters. “Another village and several commanding heights were captured. Progress continues. “Heavy fighting continues on the Eighth Army front. “Bad weather persisted on Saturday but a railway viaduct at An-

theor and the road bridge over the Var River were attacked by medium bombers. Lighti aircraft co-operat-ed with the ground forces in. the ai>, eas of Orsogna and Cassino. An air- \ field at Podgorica and shipping along tho Yugoslav coast were bombed .and also a supply depot at Terracina. Five planes are missing. The Americans have now occupied San Pietro, a sentinel -village barely a mile from the road to Rome;

Invaders yesterday successfully attacked supply dumps at Terracina, 55 miles south of Rome. Other aircraft bombed and strafed positions in the Viticuso and Mount Troccho area, where large explosions were seen. Marauders scored direct hits on the span of a bridge over the Var River west of Nice which carries German supplies to Italy. Warhawks strafed a schooner and a launch at Split, in Yugoslavia, and Italian aircraft strafed and bombed the airfield of Podgori-' ca.