GERMAN CLAIM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1943, Page 4

GERMAN CLAIM

* “OFFENSIVE ON BROAD FRONT” FLOOD OF CONTRADICTORY REPORTS. NO SLACKENING IN TERRIFIC TEMPO. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 14. A German communique states: “Fierce fighting is going on north of Salerno with British divisions, who are defending thepiselves desperately. We repelled enemy attacks south of Eboli early yesterday, after which we went over to the offensive on a broad front. The enemy was driven back to his landing point. Hard battles are in progress south-east of Eboli. • British and American casualties are very heavy.” Tonight there is a flood of contradictory and confusing reports from Allied and German sources. While some Allied correspondents state that the Allies are attacking steadily and have firmly established themselves in the coastal area, the German news agency claimed that German tanks and grenadiers, advancing from the hills to the plain, reached the town of Salerno and the coast. The news agency added that the Germans caught up and, surprised strong Allied units, which they cut off from the landing places. “The Germans,” it added, “are now engaged in breaking down the last remnants of disorderly resistance in the streets.” The Vichy radio declared that the town of Salerno changed hands several times in the last fighting. The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper “Aftonbladet” states that Allied forces have started a withdrawal by sea from Salerno. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says (the Fifth Army is fighting magnificently, with complete confidence in its strength. General Eisenhower is making a determined bid to throw back the enemy’s powerful counter-thrusts, which have been going on for more than 100 hours. There is no slackening in the terrific tempo of the struggle along the 24-mile bridgehead. General Clark’s troops still hold the important passes north and south of Salerno. Marshal Kesselring’s men are firmly installed in the hills a few miles inland. The Allies are making great efforts to dislodge them. The pattern/ of battle remains almost unchanged. The correspondent adds that accurate information about casualties'is not available, but because of the fierceness of the fighting they are likely to be heavy on both sides. (The Berlin radio claimed that between 8,000 and 10,000 American troops were killed in the Eboli fighting and a Similar number taken prisoner). The correspondent

says the landings in North Africa and Sicily were child’s play compared to the battle on the Salerno beaches, which the German artillery is able to cover.