GERMANS EJECTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1944, Page 3

GERMANS EJECTED

FROM STRONG PREPARED DEFENCES WHICH THEY VVERE ORDERED TO HOLD TO THE LAST. ALLIES NOW IN POSITION TO ATTACK CASSINO. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, January 13. The military commentator of the Algiers radio stated that Allied troops still pressing forward in the Cassino corridor, captured further enemy strongpoints on Wednesday. It was reported thta the Fifth Army had seized. a ring of heights around Cervaro and on Thursday Allied Force Headquarters announced that Cervaro was in our hands. During the past several days, British and American infantrymen have fought ferociously against stiff German resistance in the mountains surrounding this village. 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 ben ordered to hold out to the last. French troops of the Fifth Army have taken Monte Raino and Monte Mollino, both of which had changed hands several times. The Allies now hold high ground overlooking Acquafondata. A number of German prisoners were taken by the French.' While patrollings and artillery duels are the principal activity on the Eighth Army front, the nature of the fighting shows an increased tendency towards 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 in the coastal sector. Artillery barrages started large fires in the German-held town of Orsogna.

A war correspondent says Cervaro is four miles east of Cassino and dominates the approaches to Cassino itself, the Fifth Army being in a position to launch final attacks on this town.

Another war correspondent, in a 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, southwest of Rocchetta, they launched attacks in mountainous districts and made progress at several points to a depth of a thousand yards. The most northern point in the sector, a peak 3,000 feet high, was captured at the point of the bayonet. South of the road fierce fighting is taking place for Monte Casale, a large range of which the highest peak is 4.000 feet high With tiie capture of M onte Rai no and Monte Mollino, the attackers are now overlooking Asquafondata. American troops fighting for Monte Caprarone and Cervaro captured it and completely occupied the village. Despite unfavourable weather, medium bombers attacked, railway installations in Yugoslavia and bridges in