MOST OF ORTONA
NOW HELD BY CANADIANS
But Battle Still Raging 'Furiously
GERMANS CLINGING DESPERATELY TO FRINGE OF TOWN
PEAK CAPTURED ON FIFTH ARMY FRONT
LONDON, December 23
Most of the small Adriatic port of Ortona is now in the Eighth Army’s hands, but the battle for the rest of tne town is as fierce as ever. The Germans are still clinging to the northern fringe of the town in an effort to block the way of the attacking Canadian troops to the easier country beyond They are fighting with every weapon and every man available and are bringing upon troops from other parts of the hne. Seven miles inland, Indian troops are well across the lateral road, from Ortona to Orsogna. In the Apennines a strong German counter-attack was broken up decisively. On the Fifth Army front fighting is taking place m soaking rain American troops have captured a 3,000 foot peak eight miles north-east of Cassino. French troops also gained ground in the hills? , . „ . • A correspondent states that, if anything, German resistance gets tougher and tougher as the Allies advance. There are indications that every able-bodied Italian is being used to build fortifications. - , Allied fighter-bombers and fighters were out in strength and made heavy attacks along the Eighth Army front yesterday. Behind the German lines they destroyed three supply trains.
FORCED BACK
THOUGH FIGHTING FIERCELY GERMANS ON EIGHTH ARMY FRONT. CONSIDERABLE GAINS MADE BY INDIANS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) RUGBY, December 23. “On the Eighth Army front in Italy, the enemy, though fighting fiercely, is being forced back,” states an Allied. communique. “Indian troops have made considerable progress in the central sector. An enemy attack in the mountains was repulsed. French troops of the Fifth Army have advanced in mountainous country. Elsewhere activities are limited to minor clashes, patrolling and the consolidation of positions previously gained. The weather has reduced air activities to a minimum. Light aircraft co-operated with the Eighth Army and destroyed and damaged rolling stock. On the east coast they attacked shipping off Zara. Two of our aircraft are missing.” BATTLE HONOUR FOR INNISKILLING FUSILIERS. AMONG FIRST TROOPS TO LAND IN ITALY. , (British Official Wireless.) (deceived This Day, 10.0 a.m.) RUGBY, December 23. The Inniskilling Fusiliers were among the unts who, in General Montgomery’s words, were given “the supreme honour of being the first troops of all the Allied armies to land on the mainland of the Continent of Europe.” An operation order read: “The Inniskillings will invade Italy.”
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1943, Page 3
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418MOST OF ORTONA Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1943, Page 3
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