POWERFUL THRUSTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1943, Page 4

POWERFUL THRUSTS

BY THE ALLIED ARMIES IN TALY ON AND INLAND FROM ADRIATIC COAST AND TOWARDS ROAD TO ROME (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, Noon.) LONDON, December 20. Allied troops along the 70 mile front in Italy are now advancing in three powerful thrusts, says Reuter’s Algiers correspondent. Firstly, Eighth Army Indian shock troops are pushing north from Consalvi which was captured today, probing deeper into the German defences of “the Moro River. Secondly, Canadian Sherman tanks, nearer the coast, made a clean break through, inflicted severe casualties on German infantry and threw them into utter confusion. Thirdly, Fifth Army spearheads are how investing San Vittore, while the main forces are pouring through the Mignano gap. Most of the Ortona-Orsogna lateral road is in Allied hands. Consaivi, a mile north of the road, provides a commanding springboard for futuic operations. The Eighth Army is keeping up its pressure along the twelve mile eastern front. _ The Fifth Army, following on the capture of San Pietro and the investment of San Vittore, is driving along the road to Rome. An Associated Press correspondent with the Canadians says the battle for the Moro entered on its final stages on Saturday. The Canadians, exploiting their drive across the Ortona-Orsogna Roaw, closed in against the Germans, who fought, stubbornly on the lower side of the road. The main body of Germans is believed to have withdrawn from the line. The Germans yesterday afternoon destroyed a bridge which was their only avenue of retreat. Maritime troops are mopping up a gully where the enemy rearguard is standing. Since the Sango Battle, the Eighth Army has knocked out 43 German tanks, including thirty 22 ton Mark 4s, reports the British United Press Algiers correspondent. They have also, since December 15, shattered two regiments of the 90th Panzer Division, meaning that about 2,400 of the enemy have been killed,, wounded or captured. Both regiments have been amalgamated into one unit. The Berlin radio stated that a largescale American attack, aimed at capturing Rome, is believed to be imminent. „ VERY DIFFICULT COUNTRY.

Press messages from the front report that the Allied troops, pushing north from the lateral Ortona-Orsogna Road, are unable to make rapid progress owing to the difficult country. The Indians, advancing through the hills on a 15 mile front, made ground rapidly until a blown-up bridge held them up. In the coastal area, the Canadians yesterday launched an attack in the course of which heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy, but the Canadians found the going so heavy that they were unable to exploit the advantage gained. They broke into enemy positions, but the infantry were unable to keep pace with the tanks. The Ortona-Orsogna lateral road, though denied to the enemy, is as yet useless to the Allies. On the northern sector of the Fifth .Army front, the French are fighting in an important part of the mountains. An advance of about two miles was made. Senegalese troops are putting up a 'fine show, resorting to the use of knives and bayonets. During this advance there are indications that the Germans, who usually bury their dead, left in a great hurry. The Germans, however, continue to fight with great determination to maintain their hold on high features and to slow up the Allied advance at every available opportunity.