SEA OF MUD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1943, Page 3

SEA OF MUD

IN ITALIAN BATTLE AREA LITTLE GROUND ACTIVITY. BUT ALLIED AIR FORCES ATTACKING BRISKLY. LONDON, November 23. Although rather less rain has fallen in Italy in the last 24 hours, the whole, battle area remains a sea of mud and there has been little ground activity. The Eighth Army has made small but useful gains on the central part of the Allied front. In another area Canadian troops have won a struggle for heights they had occupied and the Americans have improved their positions in the • mountains. In contrast with conditions on the ground, Allied aircraft have been attacking actively and succesfully at many points. Targets' have included Civita Vechhia, railway junctions between Rome and Florence and south of Rome. One Allied aircraft is missing from all operations.

GERMAN REPORT LARGE-SCALE OFFENSIVE. STARTED BY THE EIGHTH ARMY. (By Telegraph—-. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 22. The Berlin radio .stated that the Eighth Army, after an intense artillery preparation and with strong air support, launched the expected large-scale offensive this morning. It added: “Fighting was very fierce all day, but the enemy did not succeed in gaining any ground worth mentioning and suffered heavy losses. Fighting is continuing.” RUTHLESS TACTICS ’ ’ ALL SHELTER BEING DESTROYED BY GERMANS. LONDON, November 23. An Algiers report says that German scorched earth tactics in Italy, designed to deny the Allies winter shelter as well as military advantage, are being applied with such ruthless contempt for civilian property that years will be needed to repair even part of the damage. Thousands of Italians are doomed to endure a freezing winter in the Apennines without shelter.

DAMAGING BLQWS STRUCK AT ENEMY SUPPLY LINES. IMPORTANT BRIDGE BOMBED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) RUGBY, November 23. With better weather, medium bombers struck hard at two important enemy supply lines in Italy, states a correspondent. Marauders, escorted by Lightnings, bombed the main line between Rome and Florence, *25 miles north-west of Terni. They caused considerable damage. At Foligno many hits were scored on yards and a locomotive repair shop. No enemy fighters were met. All the Marauders returned. The target of a second blow was a railway bridge at Cecina, near Leghorn, on the west coast line bringing supplies from France to the Germans through Genoa and Rome. Several bombs landed squarely on the bridge. Others fell in the railway yards nearCivita Vecchia was bombed, direct hits were scored on chemical works, munition dumps and railway yards and a vessel in the harbour was damaged. Medium and light bombers, fighterbombers and fighters co-operated in strength with the Army, especially m the Lanciano and Fossacesia areas. Enemy strongpoints were attacked and many fires and explosions were seen. One Allied plane is missing. The Algiers radio reports • strong Eighth Army patrolling and some gains. A correspondent says that all along the line the weather has cleared a little and that contact is more brisk north-west of Agogne. • Despite heavy artillery action, the Allies advanced near Alfedena. In the Fifth Army area aggressive patrols were made in the vicinity of Monte Aquiela.