Story of Capture Of “Castle Hill”

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 65, 20 March 1944, Page 5

Story of Capture Of “Castle Hill”

(Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) Received Sunday, 9.50 p.m. CASSINO, March 16. “At sunset to-day, the second day of tho assault against Cassino, most of the town is in the hands of our troops, including the hotly contested Castle Hill. Fighting goes on as the infantry, lying in bomb-shattered wreckage, engages pockets of resistance and determined snipers. The most spectacular feat of the battle was the storming and capture by the Wellington Battalion of a rocky fortress known as Castle Hill or Point 193—a natural obstacle barring the southward advance from the northern fringe of the town previously occupied by New Zealanders. “As tho infantrymen preparod to reoccupy the positions vacated prior to tho bombing yesterday, it was reported that Germans could be seen running over the top of the hill towards Piedmonte, but it was known that many held their ground. Supported by a terrific barrage and by tanks, our men went in across the ground cratered by hundreds of bombs. Even at this early stage the going was difficult because of the blasted terrain but less than an hour saw the New Zealanders past their previous positions and pressing on towards tho formidable bastion. ‘ ‘ So far there had been no casualties. As the men came under the hot fire of the defenders, it was found that Castle Hill presented a sheer unscaleable face to the north. They worked their way round to the easier side and by one o’clock they were past the building known a 3 the nunnery—a particularly strong defensive position—and climbing steadily towards the summit. Meanwhile the barrage thundered on and the towering Monastery Hill emitted clouds of white smoke laid down by the artillery. Half an hour later two tanks forced a laborious way through great piles of rubble and craters 30 feet deep and 40 feet wide and engaged the Castle. They decreased their range until they were blasting away point i blank. “Meanwhile the steady climb con-

tinued in the face of heavy fire and soon after three o’clock the tank men saw a small group of infantry gain the summit and charge across. Soon after this ridge was cleared and in full possession of our troops. “A brisk battle had been going on from house to house at the bottom, and a southern battalion went in in the early evening. These attackers drove 1 south to clear the enemy from the town e but an accumulation of factors was - against them. Tank support was denied 3 them because of the utter obliteration s of tracks. Darkness closed in without 1 even a loom of stars. Worst of all, the • weather changed. An icy gale sprang a up bringing heavy rain and even snow n on the surrounding hills. But there was v no failure. The men thrust through and a won and reported before midnight that t they were consolidating and waiting for h the moon. Dawn found the ruined town I mostly in our hands with two enemy c pockets resisting stubbornly. Snipers l- took their toll as the house to house s struggle recommenced. Meanwhile r fighter-bombers which had been in close a support during daylight hours yesterti day, renewed their attacks and the l artillery reopened. Most important was f the work accomplished by the engineers s in bridging the river and craters to en- ' able a passage of tanks and vehicles, e To-day's fighting in the town is centred round a church and post office which, f with the rest of the town, were covered i with clouds of white smoke from our i shells. ’ ’