CRITICAL STAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 December 1943, Page 3

CRITICAL STAGE

IN WINTER LINE BATTLE IN ITALY Germans Counter-Attacking Furiously LATEST EFFORT SMASHED BY AMERICAN GUNS T' ALLIES HOLDING NEWLY-WON POSITIONS LONDON, December 12. In Italy the Germans are again counter-attacking furiously on both the Eighth Army and Fifth Army fronts in an attempt to recover their lost positions. A correspondent says the Germans evidently realise that the most critical stage of the struggle for their winter line has been reached and are flinging everything they have into the battle. Our game is to hang on to the ground that has been won. One indication of the anxiety with which the Germans regard the position is that they have stepped up their air attacks on the fronts of both Allied armies. It is estimated that they made 130 sorties or individual flights yesterday. The Germans have again announced the evacuation of Mignano. A correspondent says this town, empty and battered, has for days bee» some miles behind the British line. The Germans launched a very strong counter-attack yesterday against the American front, but the attack broke down in the face of fire from American artillery.