LIKELY TO MAKE NEW ADVANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 December 1943, Page 4

LIKELY TO MAKE NEW ADVANCE

Beyond the Moro River Line

APENNINE HEIGHTS HELD FIRMLY BY 1 FIFTH ARMY

NEW TACTICS ADOPTED BY ALLIED AIR FORCES

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This D<iy, 10.40 a.in.) RUGBY, December 9. The British advance beyond the Sangro to the Moro line has been followed by the expected German counter-attacks. A new advance by the Eighth Army is now likely. The Algiers radio reports that another bridgehead has been established across the Moro just south of Ortona and also reports the capture of Monte Croce, one of the dominating features of, the Camino Hills, where the Fifth Army is now firmly entrencned. Monte Camino was taken by British forces and Monte Maggiore, three miles to the north, by Americans. The two operations are, however, parts of the process of forcing a passage through the Mignano gap into the broad valley beyond. The fact that General Clark is able to employ both nationalities in such a small sector is evidence of the high degree of integration achieved by his British and American Army. « * r Filignano, mentioned in a communique, is at the loot ol the mountains, four miles north of Venafro. , , With the weather improving, both the Tactical and strategic air forces have been able to increase their activity, says a correspondent. The co-operation of land and air forces is now perfect. Some time ago it took half an hour for bombers to carry out a mission over a target signalled by the army, but with the present methods of constant patrolling bombers can diop bombs within a few minutes. The R.A.F. Regiment is in the front line and is always ready to send smoke flares over targets to be attacked by bombers. . Yesterday bombers and fighters operating with the Fit uh and Eighth armies were out in strength, hitting east coast poris and operating continuously ahead of the battle line. Mitchells bombed warehouses, railways and ports at Pescara and Ancona and a railway yard and industrial buildings were hit at Aquila, between Pescara and Rome. Bostons, Baltimores, Spitfires, Kittyhawks, Warhawks and Invaders gave the enemy communications $ concentrated pounding by day, despite heavy flak. Heavy fighting is still going on all along the Fifth Army front. The little village of Oalabritto, in the centre of the mountainous region, after having changed hands several times, is now believed to be firmly in British hands. The whole of the two great hills massifs of Maggiore and Camino is now occupied by the Fifth Army except the north-west tip of Monte Maggiore and the village of Rocca Davandro, on Monte Camino. British troops, after taking the village of Monte Croce, advanced north of the Capua-Rome road, west of Venafro. American troops have captured more high ground. Everywhere the enemy is resisting fiercely, making copious use of artillery. The enemy is still entrenching himself and has erected many pillboxes west of Filignano. The main fighting on the Eighth Army front is near Orsogna. On this side of the Apennines the weather is still very bad.