MUNITIONS & GUNS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 December 1943, Page 3

MUNITIONS & GUNS

ROLLING ACROSS SANGRO IN WAKE OF NEW ZEALAND ADVANCE GRIP ON BRIDGEHEAD TIGHTENED (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) ITALY, November 29. Since the establishment by the New Zealanders of a bridgehead across the Sangro over 3000 yards deep by 7000 yards wide, our troops have been consolidating and improving their positions. Last night patrols again went forward. It was a clear, cold, moonless night with little visibility, and the patrols encountered no opposition. One group penetrated to a bridge which had been prepared by the Germans for demolition. An engineer quickly located the charge and withdrew the fuse. Other bridges which were passed on the road showed no signs of being mined. Yesterday and this morning the Germans continued determined attempts to destroy the one remaining bridge across the Sangro on this sector, but so far their efforts have been unavailing. The Luftwaffe made several attempts yesterday with Messerschmitts and Focke-Wulfs used as dive-bomb-ers; the total results were at least four shot down by Spitfires above the bridge. One Messerschmitt' disappeared in a flash of flame after being hit by cannon-fire from a fighter, and another dug its own grave behind the enemy lines with its bomb-load.

The bridge is constantly harassed by gunfire and sometimes by mortars, but munitions and guns have rolled forward across the river in a steady stream. With every truckload our grip on the north bank of the Sangro tightens and the chances of a successful counterattack become less.