LITTLE VILLAGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 November 1943, Page 4

LITTLE VILLAGES

DESTROYED BY THE HUNS IN ITALY IN RETREAT BEFORE ALLIED ARMIES. SMOULDERING RUINS LEFT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, November 19. The Germans are continuing to carry out a scorched earth policy, in front of the Eighth Army, by setting villages blazing in no man’s land,” a war correspondent reports. “Our patrols frequently come upon the smouldering ruins of what was once a little mountain village. The most recent instance was the destruction of the small town of San Pietro, in the Sangro Valley, east of Casteldisangro. “There was some improvement in the weather yesterday, during which we cleared the enemy out of the few positions he retained on the southern bank of the Sangro, where he had a battery of field guns and some self-propelled guns with which he had been able to shell our positions.” GERMAN CLAIM OCCUPATION OF MINOR AEGEAN ISLANDS (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, November 19. The German news agency states that German light naval forces have occupied the Italian-held Aegean island of Nikaria and captured 240 prisoners. The Germans, the agency adds, also occupied the islands of Lipso and Patmos, north of Leros, after all enemy resistance had ceased. A German High Command communique says German forces made a sortie against Lipso, Patmos and Nikaria, forced the Italian garrisons to lay down their arms and brought back considerable booty.