IMPORTANT HEIGHTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1943, Page 4

IMPORTANT HEIGHTS

GAINED BY FIFTH ARMY BAD WEATHER HAMPERS OPERATIONS \ AIRFIELDS EFFECTIVELY ATTACKED (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.53 a.m.) RUGBY, December 7. Important heights have been gained by the Fifth Army in the Monte Maggiore region, eight miles south-east of Cassino. but bad weather is holding up most of the operations. The Sangro River is in flood behind the Eighth Army and the lower Garia has become two miles wide. Allied headquarters report: On the Fifth Army front our troops have made some small advances in certain sectors, capturing several important features. Elsewhere the enemy has counter-attacked, with local successes in some places and has been repulsed in others. On the Eighth Army front heavy rain in the hills has interfered with progress. Pressure is being maintained in all sectors against the enemy, who hold the general line of OrsogPuarcliangrele. Airfields at Eleusis and Kalamaki were attacked by heavy bombers of the North-West African Air Force. Preliminary reports indicate that the bombing was very effective. Ten attacking fighters were shot down. Air co-operation in the land battle was maintained but on a .reduced scale, owing to bad weather. On Sunday night fighter bombers were active over Northern Italy. Two of our aircraft are missing.”