MORE HEIGHTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 December 1943, Page 3

MORE HEIGHTS

STORMED BY THE FIFTH ARMY ON WESTERN SIDE OF ROAD TO ROME. MONTGOMERY'S MEN TEN MILES BEYOND SANGRO. LONDON, December 6. , hi Italy, the Fifth Army lias stormed “ three more heights dominating the road to Rome. The offensive here is developing into some of the bitterest fighting of the campaign. The enemy defences are organised in great strength in the mountains. It is slow, bitter work, but . General. Clark’s British and American troops are going on with a will.

The task is that of storming the foundations .of the enemy’s winter line Vmtil they crumble one by one. Most of the ground gained in the latest attacks is on the coastal side of the main road to Rome. East of the road, American forces smashed a German coun-ter-attack and inflicted heavy casualties.

In the Adriatic sector, the Eighth Army'-is fighting a battle in great heart. In the coastal area General Montgomery’s troops are now on the line of a river ten miles beyond the Sangro River,and are face to face with powerful enemy forces. There is little news of what is happening further inland, where a battle is going on round a strong centre of resistance. The weather is not giving the Allied airmen much of a chance, but they have kept up their attack ahead of the army and on the enemy’s communications well to the rear. ACTIVE NAVAL SUPPORT GIVEN TO EIGHTH ARMY ADVANCE ON BOTH ALLIED FLANKS l (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) RUGBY, December 6. "While bitter mountain fighting continues on both sides of the Italian front, British naval forces have been active in support of the Eighth Army front, where the Germans have been reinforced. A North Africa land communique states: “Both flanks of our troops are continuing •to advance against stiff enemy resistance. On the Eighth Army front the enemy has received fresh reinforcements and heavy fighting is taking place. In spite of adverse weather conditions further progress has been made, and, in the coastal sector, we are now on the line of the River Moro. On the Fifth Army front we captured heights and consolidated positions previously gained. An enemy counter-attack was repulsed, with heavy losses to the enemy.