APPALLING WEATHER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 November 1943, Page 3

APPALLING WEATHER

STILL LIMITING ACTION IN ITALY LOCAL GAIN MADE BY EIGHTH ARMY . ATHENS AIRFIELDS BOMBED , AGAIN LONDON, November 18. Appalling weather, with heavy rain, still prevails along the whole front in Italy. The Eighth Army has gained some further ground north of Atessa, and our troops in this sector are now within a few miles of the Sangro lliver. The Germans attempted a counterattack, but it was broken up by our artillery before it could • start. Elsewhere there has been some intermittent shelling. Flying Fortresses again bombed the German airfield at Eleusis today, for the third day in succession. Mitchells bombed an adjacent airfield. Effective damage was done to both targets. The Mitchells shot down two enemy fighters. Over the Aegean, Spitfires shot down three enemy fighters. From all these operations two of our aircraft are missing. HALT ENFORCED IN GROUND FIGHTING. DETAILS OF AIR OPERATIONS. (British Official Wirelessj (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, November 18. Rain and mud and swollen rivers have produced conditions which have definitely curtailed the opportunities of the armies in Italy to make any substantial progress. On the Eighth Army front north of the River Sangro there was intermittent enemy shelling, and at a point 12 miles inland, near the region of Atesa, enemy manoeuvres for the preparation of a counter-attack were observed and promptly reported. A force of Kittyhawks swept in to strafe the assembled enemy forces, in cooperation with British infantry fire, and the German counter-attack was destroyed before it could be launched. On the Fifth Army front there was heavy shelling in the Venafro area on Wednesday night and Thursday. An attempt was made by the Germans "to run small boats up the ■ Garigliano River for some distance inland. The boats were fired oh by our troops. The airfield of Eleusis, near Athens, was attacked yesterday for the third time by Mitchells, and yesterday unescorted Flying Fortresses flew through a heavy anti-aircraft barrage to drop bombs on hangars, administrative buildings, and nine adjacent structures. One side of the field was potholed along its entire length, and revetments were also hit. No enemy fighters were encountered. Mitchells, escorted by Lightnings, also went to the Athens area and attacked the airfield at'Kalmaki, scoring hits on hangars and grounded aircraft. Fighter-bombers and fighters, an air communique reports, carried out offensive patrols and attacked enemy communications in the battle area. Light bombers on Tuesday bombed industrial targets on the west coast of Italy, opposite Elba. In these operations five enemy aircraft were destroyed. • A Middle East communique says Hurricanes attacked Crete yesterday, hits on motor transport being observed. Spitfires made an offensive reconnaissance in the Rhodes area, without incident. A small supply vessel was attacked and left smoking east of Crete. All our planes returned.