INITIATIVE WITH ALLIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1943, Page 3

INITIATIVE WITH ALLIES

FIGHTING ON ITALIAN FRONT

Eighth Army Across Morro River

STUBBORN ENEMY RESISTANCE

BITTER STRUGGLE ON ROAD TO ROME

LONDON, December 7. In mist, mud and rain the Fifth and Eighth armies in Italy still hold the initiative all along’ the line. On the Adriatic sector, Eighth Army forces have crossed the Morro River, ten miles from the Sangro River. They managed to get some tanks across and these were quickly challenged by German tanks. Four German Mark IV tanks were knocked out in a sharp clash. The German line runs through three towns and the enemy resistance has been most stuoborn round two of them. Two German counter-attacks between these towns and the coast have been beaten off decisively. The Fifth Army has further weakened strong German positions on either side of the main road to Rome. West of this road the Allies now hold nearly all the peaks and ridges in two areas. This most vital area, five miles square, is still the scene of heavy fighting. In places the Germans counter-attacked and regained ground, In one of these places the German success is only temporary, as the enemy troops are surrounded. On the eastern side of the road American troops have pushed forward about a mile. Air activity over the battlefield yesterday was restricted to fighter-bombers. American heavy bombers made a daylight attack on two big airfields near Athens in Greece. R.A.F. Middle East bombers attacked docks at a Greek port. From these and other operations two Allied planes are missing.