MOVE FORWARD

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22261, 2 February 1944, Page 3

MOVE FORWARD

ADVANCE IN ITALY THREE FRONTS ACTIVE VIOLENT BATTLES OCCUR (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 1 Allied forces in Italy have made small advances from the Nettuno bridgehead, on the Gustav Line, and on the Eighth Army’s front. On the left of the main Fifth Army line, British troops in the Garigliano sector have beaten off more German attacks. They are pressing on in the Minturno area, and have taken hill features on each side of Castelforte. These are Tugga (2000 ft.) and Torunda (1100 ft.). French and American troops stormed more German defence positions north of Cassino yesterday. Allied forces are now firmly holding the village of Cairo, three miles north of Cassino, but the great mass of Mount Cairo (5000 ft.) has yet to be taken. To assault it, our troops must force their way through difficult country strongly held by the Germans. Canadians’ Progress Canadian troops on the Eighth Army front have advanced against stiff opposition in the Adriatic coastal sector. Lieutenant - General Sir Oliver Leese, Commander of the Eighth Army, has paid frequent visits to the forward area, where he has talked with the troops and distributed cigarettes. Allied troops pushing out from the Pontine beachhead have been involved in sharp fighting. Correspondents say that a general attack to deepen the Allied area started at midnight on Friday. This followed several days of local clashes, in which the Allied troops strengthened their positions while men and supplies still came ashore. British and American troops, attacking from their positions on tne Anzio beachhead, have reached the outskirts of Cistema. Some of the bloodiest fighting since the Nettuno landing occurred in the past 48 hours, reports the British United Press correspondent. The Germans fought back fiercely, but paid a heavy price. Fields Strewn with Dead Fields were strewn with hundreds of German dead and shattered burnt-out enemy tanks. Many tanks were destroyed by self-sacrificing Americans, who blew themselves up with the tanks with hand grenades. Other tanks were knocked out by Allied soldiers leaping on them and killing the crews by firing revolvers through the observation slits. The heaviest hand-to-hand fighting developed. In some sectors Allied troops running short of ammunition closed with the Germans, disarmed them and killed them with their own weapons.

While the immediate objectives of the Allied attacks have not been disclosed, the town of Cistema and the Appian Way lie directly ahead, says a correspondent. The road from the south has been covered with German transport for the past few days and nights as troops have been brought back in a hurry to stem the invasion. The Germans have even brought reinforcements from Florence, Spezia and other parts of Northern Italy and might now be in a position to launch their expected attack