GERMAN MOVE

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22320, 11 April 1944, Page 3

GERMAN MOVE

FLOOD-GATES SHUT OFF

SUDDEN DROP IN RIVER SHARP ARTILLERY DUELS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received April 11, noon) LONDON, April 10 The Germans shut off the floodgates in the Liri river, resulting in a sudden drop of five i'eet in the Garigliano river, to which the Liri is a tributary, says Reuter’s correspondent at the Allied Headquarters in Italy. The Germans’ objective may either be to dry up the lower Garigliano valley in preparation for an attack or to store up a volume of water in readiness to flood out a possible Allied thrust.

The correspondent adds that obviously something :s happening in the long-quiescent coastal sector. German troops are reported to be swarming through the mountain pass behind Minturno.

It is officially disclosed that Americans are manning the Garigliano line, which previously was entirely held by British. 1 Artillery activity in the Cassino area has sharply increased in the past 24 hours. New Zealand Troops

New Zealand troops in Italy have attacked two strongpoints south of Cassino. They inflicted casualties on the Germans and the strongpoints were partly destroyed by our artillery. The guns have been rumbling all along the main Fifth Army front from Cassino to the sea. Near the coast on the British sector along the Garigliano our shellfire knocked out several tanks. A correspondent at Allied headquarters says many small groups of German infantry have been seen in the mountains of this sector and also an unusual amount of motor transport. The bitter artillery duel along the stalemated Italian front continued yesterday with the Germans inflicting some damage on Anzio Harbour, says the Associated Press correspondent at Allied headquarters in Italy. Allied gunners set fire to an ammunition dump west of Cisterna, in the beachhead area. The Germans south-west of lema were again in action with their remote-controlled tanks, but these were spotted lumbering toward the Allied lines, with the result that three were destroyed and one damaged. The Germans resumed considerable mortar shelling against Cassino on Saturday night after a quiet day. A slackening off by German artillery and patrols has been noted in the bridgehead area, where five enemy patrols were repulsed. Another remote-control tank was knocked out. bringing the total to five in the past two days.