CLOSE THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1943, Page 3

CLOSE THREAT

TO IMPORTANT LATERAL ROAD Behind German Front in Italy EIGHTH ARMY KEEPING UP ASSAULT ENEMY LOSING HEAVILY IN MOUNTAIN FIGHTING LONDON. December 13. Eighth Army troops are keeping up their onslaught north of the Moro River, in spite of unfavourable weather and stiff German opposition. On the Adriatic coast, Canadian troops have pushed up the coast to within two miles of Ortona and. now occupy high ground overlooking the port, the most important town in the present German line." Further inland, other troops have fought their way into positions dominating a 1000-yard stretch of a road and Allied artillery already are making it difficult for the enemy to use the road. Further inland still, in the mountainous mass of a range, the peaks of which reach 8,000 feet the positions are held by Alpine troops. The Germans are fighting very hard to stop the Allies from crossing this vital road to the less difficult country ahead. They have packed into a 15-mile line three strong divisions. On the Fifth Army front, British and American troops are engaged mainly in consolidating, patrolling and in artillery activities. A correspondent says the Germans are coming out worst in the mountain fighting. In spite of heavy losses, the enemy is persistently counter-attacking both by day and by night. The forces used vary from a few men to a fair-sized unit. The brilliant flashes of the phosphorus shells used by the Allies at night enable American machine-gunners to pick up the enemy clearly and mow them down with deadly accuracy. Allied headquarters states that since the Allies landed in Italy, 6,0000 German prisoners have been captured.