CASSINO'S FALL

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22353, 20 May 1944, Page 5

CASSINO'S FALL

UTILE OPPOSITION NEW ZEALANDERS’ SHARE TANKS CROSS THE TOWN (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) CASSINO, May 18 Cassino, the scene of one of the fiercest and most prolonged battles of this war, fell to New Zealand tanks and British infantry 21 minutes after a direct attack on the town’s main strongpoints went in from the Liri Valley at 10 o’clock this morning. Though it was known last night that the Geimans still nad tanks and paratroops in the town, our attack was almost completely unopposed, and within half an hour after it began British infantry were swarming across the rubble closely supported by the New Zealanders’ tanks. For the first time since the New Zealanders’ assault on Cassino began over two months ago hardly a shot was fired this morning in the town or along the slopes of Monastery, Ridge behind it.

No opposition came from the Continental Hotel, .the Hotel des Roses, the Colosseum or Baron’s Palace—all strongpoints / bitterly defended by German paratroops through months of hard fighting for possession of the town. As yet—it is now nearly an hour' since the battle began—only a few prisoners have been taken. Tnese were mainly in a group which came down the slopes of Monastery Hill under a white flag. Line of Retreat Controlled As soon as the New Zealand tanks reached points overlooking the highway to Rome where it runs trom Cassino out into the Liri Valley yesterday they controlled the German garrison’s best line of retreat. Their only alternative was to escape across the ridges behind the town, wnere it was probable they would be met by the advancing Polish infantry. It is yet unknown which way of escape the Germans used but it was obvious as soon as the attack began this morning that their idetfences were only thinly held. The New Zealand tanks were ready at daybreak, both in the town area and with the attacking infantry in the valley beyond, to go into action in Cassino. Our main armoured striking force was the same Wellington formation which crossed the Rapido river into the Liri Valley soon after the Eighth Army’s attack began. It included some of the same tank crews who fought through the New Zealanders’ infantry assault on Cassino. Inside the town and in a strongpoint about the railway station were three other groups of New Zealand tanks waiting quietly and ready to support the attack and fire on any movement within the German-held buildings. Long Period of Waiting

These New Zealand tanks had been continuously manned through the long lull, while the Eighth Army’s attack was being prepared. Through weeks of heavy shelling and mortar fire when they could not retaliate, these New Zealanders have remained at their unenviable posts, prepared to meet any counter-attacks the Germans put against the British outposts across the town.

So tense was the atmosphere in Cassino during this period that some relieving crews had to creep across the rubble wearing sandshoes to get to their tanks. All day, every day, and often at night they had to stay hidden, eating and sleeping in their tanks or in pits under them. As the attacks developed this morning I stood with the commander of this New Zealand armoured force beside his tank and heard reports from the advancing tanks come across the inter-communication radio like a running commentary on the battle. Below us parts of the ruins of Cassino showed occasionally through the blanket of smoke and dust that has covered them for two months. Smoke shells from guns behind us were still falling in great white puffs along Monastery Ridge. “Watch Continental Hotel” Over the air frorti the other New Zealand tank formation which was then forming ready to attack the town from the Liri Valley came the slow message: “Have your boys watch the Continental Hotel. Him tanks are there. One of them may come out looking for trouble ” Quickly the message went on from our tank to the New Zealand Shermans sitting ready in the town. At least six of our tank guns were lined on the Continental Hotel but not once during the attack did the German armour attempt to move. Immediately in front of our attacking force when, it crossed the railway running parallel with the road to Rome beyond Cassino were two strongpoints, Baron’s Palace and the Colosseum, which we expected to meet our attack witn severe antitank fire. Both of these points had held out against every previous attack. Toaay they were captured easily and across the radio link one success report followed another.