CASSINO CORRIDOR

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22791, 15 January 1944, Page 5

CASSINO CORRIDOR

Allies Extend Their Front

Germans Resisting Stubbornly

(Rec. 1.5 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 14. The whole of the British. American and French line in Italy is moving forward, states the Algiers radio. The Fifth Army, according to the Rome radio, is making one attack after another. Cassino appears to be the aim of the renewed thrusts. It is an insignificant village which enemy propaganda depicted as a strongly fortified town. An Algiers communique reports that American and French troops from the Fifth Army continued their drive through rugged country against fierce enemy resistance, taking several peaks. Our troops repulsed an enemy counter-attack designed to retake Cervaro, and advanced beyond the town. On the Eighth Army front British and New Zealand troops improved their positions. Patrols from both armies probed deep into enemy territory, gaining valuable information and taking prisoners. Now that Cervaro Is in Allied hands the country between that town and Cassino is natter and less difficult, but it is expected that the Germans will fight for every yard of ground. To the south and south-east, British and American troops are also hammering their way forward and are now only three miles from Cassino. While patrolling and artillery duels are the principal activity on the Eighth Army front, the nature of the fighting shows an increased tendency toward close hand-to-hand combat. Artillery and mortars continue to roar across No Man's Land, but the opposing infantry are continually drawing closer to one another and sharp patrol clashes are occurring. Heights Stormed To-day’s Allied communique states: “French troops of the Fifth Army have advanced against stiff enemy resistance to take several important heights. Progress continues. Fighting patrols are active elsewhere on both the Fifth and Eighth Army fronts.” The French troops have taken Monte Raino and Monte Mollino, both of which changed hands several times. The Allies now hold high ground overlooking Acquafondata. A number of German prisoners were taken by the French. A war correspondent message, describing the French advance, states: “French troops of the Fifth Army, under General Juin, had a great day yesterday. Fighting in the northern portion of the line south-west of Rocchetta, they launched attacks in the mountainous districts and made progress at several points to a depth of 1000 yards. At the most northern point of the sector is a peak 3000 feet high, which was captured at the point of the bayonet. On the south road fierce fighting is taking place for Monte Casale, a large range with the highest peak 4000 feet. “With the capture of Monte Raino and Monte Mollino, they are now overlooking Acquafondata. Americans Take Cervaro “American troops, fighting for Monte Capraroine and Cervaro, captured it and completely occupied the village.” During the last few days British and American infantrymen fought ferociously against stiff German resistance in the mountains surrounding the village of Cervaro. Although the Germans had constructed what they believed to be formidable defences in depth, Allied infantrymen inched ahead, taking first one dominating height and then another. The battle raged on under the most severe mountain conditions, but the Germans slowly retreated. Prisoners captured throughout the fighting for the Cassino corridor stated that they had been ordered to hold out to the last. Sappers Kept Busy During seven weeks over a stretch of 22 miles British and South African sappers in Italy have built six bridges and three tunnels and put down 6000 lengths of rail, 46 sets of points for crossings. For 24 hours the job is carried on, and where the German railway wrecking machines have been used the sappers have to make good the total destruction not only of bridges and railway tunnels but also of sleepers. On one section of 12 miles enemy wreckers were most active. Twelve bridges were blown up, including one of 24 spans, while 300 lengths of rail and 25,000 sleepers were destroyed. In addition, over one section of the track more than 1000 mines were taken up. Air and Sea Operations In spite of unfavourable weather, medium bombers attacked railway installations in Yugoslavia and bridges in the vicinity of Arce ahead of the Fifth Army on the road to Rome. Fighter-bombers in a sweeo over the coast of Dalmatia were attacked by about 12 enemy aircraft, two of which were shot down without loss. Baltimores bombed Palena, causing fires and explosions. An Admiralty communique states that during ' Monday night our destroyers continued to harass railway traffic on the east coast of Italy. Return fire from shore batteries at Civitanouva caused no damage. The warships also shelled Pedaso, where they started a fire.