GERMAN DEFENCE
STIFFENING ON APPROACHES TO ROME RESERVES BROUGHT DOWN FROM NORTH. SIGNS OF “BACKS TO WALL” STAND. (By Telegraph—Buess Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, November 12. The Allied armies, held Up all along the line across Italy by some of the worst weather of the campaign, are thoroughly consolidating the ground captured during the week. There have been a few advances on the Fifth Army front, one in the Mignano sector, where the third German counter-attack in three days was beaten off. The Germans are making the most of the delay caused by the bad weather. They are bringing more men down from the north tostrengthen their lines around Rome and along the Garigliano and Sangro rivers. Reuter's correspondent at Allied Headquarters reports that, German heavy guns, mounted on tire heights dominating the north bank of the River Sangro, are smashing against the Eighth Army troops spreading out along the south bank. The Germans have put down a heavy barrage during the past 24 hours, but the British troops are extending their hold. The Germans are showing more signs of strength on parts of the Fifth Army front than sihee the Salerno fighting, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Fifth Army. The enemy is concentrating artillery along his winter line in the mountainous area, in the region of Mignano and north of Venafro. Another sign that the Germans are determined to make a stand is the frequency of their counter-attacks, which, though not made by large forces, are nevertheless determined efforts by well-armed and skilled units. These activities are only to be expected in view of Rommel’s order that the Germans’ present mountain and river line must be held as long as possible. The Fifth Army is still edging forward for an assault against the main German positions, in spite of artillery interference and coun-ter-attacks, except in the westein coastal sector, where there is still onlypatrolling in the Garagliano River legion. “From the present point of view n will be remarkable if we celebrate Christmas in Rome,” says the .British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Army. The Germans obviously are determined to fight a “backs to the wall” battle for Rome, firstly for the maintenance of their falling prestige and secondly for vital time to consolidate positions within inner fortress Europe. The German Army, is still very strong. Despite losses in Russia, the enemy command is able to send reinforcements not only to Italy but also to the Balkans, where some Allied diversionary move seems to be feared.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1943, Page 4
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421GERMAN DEFENCE Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1943, Page 4
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