POWERFUL PRESSURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 January 1944, Page 4

POWERFUL PRESSURE

MAINTAINED BV ALLIES ON THE MOUNTAIN FRONT IN ITALY. WEDGE THREATENS CASSINO IN FLANK. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, January 6. Devastating Allied artillery fire tonight is raking that half of San Vittcre still in German hands, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters. He adds that the Americans are preparing to sweep in to complete the capture of this mountain village. Crushing pressure is being maintained along the Fifth Army’s ten mile fighting „ front and a series of British and American hammer-blows, with powerful artillery support, is pushing the Germans back. The Allied spearheads at some points have dug more than a mile into the German positions. One wedge, threatcreeping forward in the mountains creeping gforward in the mountains west of Venafro. Other British troops, who are attacking in the southern sector, near the bend of the Gariggliano River, captured about 50 German prisoners. The Fifth Army began its new attack in fqce of a violent sleet and rain storm, on a front extending five milofi on either side of the Rome Road, from a point west of Venafro to a point west of Rocca.. The advance of one mile mentioned in the Algiers communique was made in face of stiff opposition. American troops entered San Vittore in darkness on Wednesday night and fierce fighting is still going on in the village, half of which has been captured. San Vittore is the key to the German defence of Cassino and the entrance to the Liri Valley.

WAR IN MOUNTAINS

ALLIES TAKE THREE PEAKS IN TWO DAYS. NEW TYPE OF FIGHTER-BOMBER. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, January 6. A British United Press correspondent says the Fifth Army began its drive supported by an extremely heavy barrage and bombing and strafing from the air. A combined group of Canadians and Americans made one of the most important advances through difficult and snow-capped mountain terrain. They captured another mountain peak, making three peaks captured in two days. Canadians of the Eighth Army captured a hill three miles beyond Orlona. Thev are now overlooking a coastal village on the road to Pescara eighc miles distant. Fierce fighting continues in this coastal sector, where the infantry is clearing out enemy nests south of the Moro River.

A new type of fighter-bomber, named the Invader, is mentioned in cables from the Fifth Army front. It is an adaptation of the Mustang, suited for dive-bombing and carrying two 5001 b. bombs. Invaders, attacking in the Cervaro'area yesterday, used new tactics. Instead of dive-bombing, they roared through narrow valleys, as close to the ground as possible and gunning German positions, at 300 miles an hour. Torre de Passeri, mentioned in an Algiers communique, is about seven miles north-east of Popoli, on the main railway between Sulmona and Pescaia.