NOW CRUMBLING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 November 1943, Page 3

NOW CRUMBLING

ANOTHER GERMAN DEFENCE LINE ON APPROACH TO ROME SUPREMELY IMPORTANT HEIGHTS TAKEN (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.27 a.m.) RUGBY, November 3. Yet another German defence line before Rome is crumbling, following on the brilliant and determined action of British troops who succeeded in capturing important heights on the Massico Ridge, taking positions where the Germans had been busy for six weeks, making ready and camouflaging gun positions and machine-gun posts and setting put minefields, states a correspondent at Allied Headquarters. In the north, the correspondent adds, we captured an important height.. The result of these actions is that we are now in possession of two outstanding points of vantage, from which the Germans have been evicted, which give us complete observation 6f the valley of the Garigliano. On the right flank of the Fifth Army, our troops have occupied Pratella and Ballo. Here again we have secured the complete occupation of magnificent observation points, overlooking the Germans across the low ground beyond. While not all the high ground in this sector, has been occupied by the Fifth Army, the points secured are of supreme importance in view 'of future operations. The Eighth Army has profited by improved weather and the general intensity of activity on this front has been considerably enlarged. We now hold two working bridgeheads and British troops did a sterling job in difficult, mountainous country to consolidate the Trigno ■ crossing. This development in this sector now seems to be a natural •development of the daring amphibious operations at Termoli, carried out by troops of the Irish Brigade and Canadian tank regiments. A continuance of the steady, daily advance by the land forces in Italy and a flare-up of the air attack, were the main points in Wednesday’s communiques. A North-West Africa land communique says: “Fifth Army troops continue to advance steadily against pockets of enemy resistance. Enemy tanks were in action in one sector and attempted to hold up our advance. The Eighth Army increased pressure along its front and some advances were made. Enemy opposition was stiff. Our artillery was active and accurate bombing of enemy positions was carried out with good results.” An Air communique states: “Medium bombers of the North-West African Air Force, escorted by long-range fighters, attacked a rail and road bridge near Massiano and the harbour of Civita Vecchia. On Tuesday unescorted medium bombers attacked marshalling yards at Ancona and Tarquina. Light bombers and fighter-bombers attacked enemy positions and motor concentrations. During Monday night, light bombers attacked motor transport near Isernia. Night bombers on Tuesday night attacked an airfield at Pianoromano.”