FORGING AHEAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1944, Page 3

FORGING AHEAD

IN THE SAN VITTORE AREA FIFTH ARMY TROOPS FIGHTING IN SNOW. AIR OPERATIONS RESTRICTED BY WEATHER. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, January 7. The Fifth Army continues to forge ahead in the San Vittore area, where the Germans once again are putting up a stiff resistance in the region in which they have built up a strong defensive position to protect the key town of Cassino. Cold weather prevails and the troops are fighting in snow-covered ground. The Americans have captured another useful high feature —Monte Majo, south-west of Citicuso and five miles north-west of Venafro. The capture enabled the Americans to cut the road running from Citicuso to Cervaro and San Vittore, thus denying the enemy a much-used supply road. The Germans still hold three points in he town of San Vittore itself, and fighting for complete Allied possession is still in progress. The Germans are maintaining heavy shell fire on the attacking troops.

On the southern part of the line, British troops yesterday captured another 79 prisoners. The weather is just as cold on the Eighth. Army front, with heavy snow falling in the mountains, where we are aiming to secure additional high ground. Our troops are patrolling aggressively. Indian units made a short advance west of San Tomaso. In rugged and difficult country they encountered active German patrols. The Germans have brought into their lines in the coastal sector parachutists who are being used as infantry. A communique says/ bad weather again limited air operations. Fighterbombers attacked German positions in the Cervaro area and the railway at Fondi. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed. All of ours returned.