UNDER SNOW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 3, 5 January 1944, Page 5

UNDER SNOW

EIGHTH ARMY FRONT GERMAN TRANSPORT LINES HARRIED Recd. 6.40 p.m. Rugby, Jan. 3. Apart from continue.* hard fighting on the coast road north of Ortona, activity in Italy yesterday was limiter to patrolling owing to rain, snow, ana high wind, states Allied headquarters. Strong forces of medium bombers attacked rail communications in the Italian Riviera. Bridges at Taggia and Ventimiglia and railway yards at Arma and Riva were well covered. Other medium bombers attacked the yards at Terni. Fighters and fighteroombers caused widespread damage in numerous sweeps over the battle areas against road and rail transport. Two of our planes are missing. On many occasions since the beginning of the Italian campaign a sudden change in the weather has proved ol great, assistance to the Germans, but the rapid change that came on Saturday night for once proved expensive to I hem writes a war correspondent with the Eighth Army. A gale of wind that had blown for 48 hours dropped suddenly and was followed by a heavy fall of snow. The whole of lhe Apennines were covered with snow on Sunday morning, when Spitfires on patrol spotted lines of German transports snowbound near Pescara. Fighterbombers were immediately turned on to attack, and they continued their operations throughout the day, at the end of which their bag, together with that of the Spitfires, was more than 30 lorries destroyed and over 70 damaged. They also found in the area two snowbound trains, which they attacked, blowing up both locomotives Where transport is snowbound is almost in the middle of the RomePescara lateral road, 3000 feet above sea level. Apart from the narrow belt on the coast, the whole Eighth Army front is now under snow, with the result that the ground operations are considerably restricted. In some towns and villages just behind the lines tne snow is more than three feet deep, while at the western end of the front there are very deep drifts. Some of the roads on our side of the line are snowbound and our troops are engaged in clearing them. Improvised snow-ploughs ol planks fixed in front of jeeps were at work throughout the day, clearing the way to our advanced posts.—B.O.W.