BITTER FIGHTING

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22246, 15 January 1944, Page 5

BITTER FIGHTING

GERMANS DRIVEN BACK

ANOTHER VILLAGE TAKEN THRUST TOWARD CASSINO (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrig-ht) ; (Received Jan. 15, 11 a.m.) j LONDON, Jan. 14 French and American troops on the j Fifth Army front in It.a]y have i thrown back at least three strong German counter-attacks and made further progress toward Cassino. i The Germans say they have evac- ; uated the village of Aquafondata and taken up more favourable positions on a shorter line. East of Cassino American troops have pressed beyond Cervaro. Bitter fighting is going on further south, where British and American troops are driving forward into the lower slopes of Monte Trocchio, which is the last mountain barrier blocking the Cassino Pass. One British and two American thrusts are being made against the eastern and southern slopes of this height. They are prising the enemy out of rocky strongpoints at the point of the bayonet and blowing them from their holes with grenades. Would Crack Cassino Anchor The Allies, attacking south-west of Roccheta, have progressed to a depth of 1000 yards, at seme points reaching positions overlooking the road to Antina. The capture of this road would crack Cassino’s northern anchor. In 24 hours French troops pushed forward their line an average distance of two miles yesterday, says a correspondent. They seized at least four major peaks and many lesser heights. In some places fighting has been severe and the French have taken many prisoners. The heights captured by the French are around the village of Aquafondata. The French movement is gaining momentum, squeez- ! ing Aquafondata from two directions. | To the north the German supply I j lines through the mountains are still 1 comparatively secure, but further | south they are threatened by our : (success around Cervaro,'says a cor-J j respondent. ! Prisoners captured in the fighting ( | for the Cassino corridor stated that they had been ordered to hold out to the last. The apparent slowness of the Allied advance in Italy is explained by a correspondent, who says that after each advance we need time to make supply routes over the newly-won country and bring up supplies by mule trains and porters. As a result our progress tends to be in a series of hops, but the main point is that these hops are consistently and successfully maintained. Enemy Lines Probed An Allied communique says that on the Adriatic sector New Zealand and British troops of the Eighth Army have improved their positions. There has been active patrolling on the Eighth Army front and our troops have probed deep into enemy territory, gaining valuable information and taking prisoners. Artillery barrages started large fires in the German-held town of Orsogna. A Navy communique states: During Monday night our destroyers continued to harass rail traffic on the east coast of Italy. Return fire from the shore batteries at Civitanouva caused no damage. They also shelled Pedaso, where they started a fire. The French consolidated their positions on the northern part of the Fifth Army front and developed an I offensive to advance a further two miles, reports a correspondent at | Allied headquarters. The fighting j was mainly by infantry using cold i steel and was of the fiercest order. In this mountainous region well I organised positions were captured, | and three new heights. The French I also captured the eastern slope of another important height, San Pietro, where they beat back two fierce counter-attacks. On the Colli-Atina road they stormed Monna Casale, and a little to the south- Acquafondata fell into their hands. Thus all the high ground north and east of Acquafondata is now in Allied hands. Americans are striking towards the small town of St. Elie, four miles north-north-east of Cassino. They are also threatening the foothills and approaches to the towering Monte Trocchio, which bars the way three miles from Cassino. German prisoners boast of the de- I fensive positions they have built up, j in addition to the natural strength i afforded by the high ground and the river Ropido running through Cas- I sind.