SERIES OF RIDGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1943, Page 3

SERIES OF RIDGES

‘ BEHIND ENEMY FRONT LIMIT ON EXPECTATIONS \ IN LONDON. J SPLENDID WORK OF ALLIED AIR FORCE. (British Official Wireless.). , (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, December 1. The German losses yesterday, in men and armour, were heavy, says a correspondent in Italy. While we have pierced the main enemy defence positions in the coastal area, it is emphasised that no territory can be regarded as secure until the enemy’s main counter-attack

has met defeat. In the Sangro area this counter-attack has not yet been delivered and the Eighth Army is not out of the wood. Over 25 miles on the right flank of the British line from north of Castiglione to the sea, our advance has been to a depth of 2 to 3 miles and heavy lighting is still proceeding in wet weather. No such sudden break through, followed by a pursuit, is to be expected in the Italian hills as took place in the Libyan deserts, it is stated in London. Each ridge can be defended, and the Adriatic coast consists of a series of ridges running to the sea. Moreover the Germans are devastating the country with characteristic thoroughness, leaving not a house to shelter the advancing troops. An air. correspondent says yesterday was • another great day for the Tactical Air Force in Italy. Its planes kept up continuous sweeps over the battlefield, strafing and bombing with greater accuracy and weight than ever before. Enemy fighters attempted to interfere with our almost unceasing at tacks in support of the advancing infantry, but in every instance were intercepted by Spitfires, Warhawks, and Kittyhawks and driven off with losses.