Evening star., 1943-08-10

made haste to get on higher ground.
Thunderous explosions from 88s
about 800 yards to our right we're
an added incentive. But guns from
the destroyers and cruisers farther
offShore soon finished of that trou-
BILE maker.
Throughout the morning Navy
guns protected both our flanks as
we climbed deeper into the hills.
They smashed westbound convoy
of trucks and men which, if it had
gotten through, might have nipped
us before we had time to dig in.
The Yankee doughboys proved
themselves today. Any point of re-
sistance which delayed us more
than momentarily brought a call
for "bazooka men up forward!"
We left the road and climbed.
Despite the pressing time factor it
became necessary to call frequent
halts. The men who carry mortars,
machine guns and ammunition
must rest, nd accompanying rifle
men must protect them. Every halt
drew immediate heavy fire from
the enemy entrenched on higher
ground. 1t called for cool heads
and the Americans had them.
Tanks Protect Flanks.
Back on the road mobile loss
and tanks were churning up and
down the road, protecting fanks
and knocking off tragets at each
opportunity. Two Mark-4s, at
tempting to escape, were caught in
the main street Of San Agata and
smashed by vollery of artillery
For an hour those symbols OF
German might burned fiercely
throwing up huge billow of black
smoke over the doomed city. With
staccato reports ammunition and
gasoline went off. 1t was good
sight for us on the hill to see.
Tanks roamed through the town
straying sniper- infested houses with
machlne-gun fire. An italian Re-
nault tankette was overrun and
smashed by Gen. Sherman tank
driven by Pvt. George F. Singer of
Madison, Wise.
The tank platoon was commanded
by 1t. John Campbell Of Glendale,
Long Island.
Back in the hills we were still
climbing, seeking ground which
dominated the road. We came
across the first civilians living in a
cave.
BY 3 o'clock we were secure in
the hills. But the delay in getting
the ducks with the loads of ammu-
milton through the breach in the
storm-wall had left us with only a
basic load of ammunition for all the
guns. That is not a very healthy
condition when there are Germans
on three sides of you.
Navy Hurls in Salvos.
The next four hours were perhaps
the most trying of the operation.
Prisoners and civilians interro-
gated indicated that some of the
enemy had pulled out last night.
leaving only a skeleton holding force
remaining in the ridge which had
stymied the American advance four
days.
The Navy continued to throw In
salvo now and then. The solid
thud was comforting especially
when 1t did not come too close to
our own somewhat distorted posi-
tlons. Allied warplanes provided a
cover although Axis bombers did
slip through once during the morn
Ing to have a try at our fleet off,
shore.
But those demon 8as were we'll
dug in and were beginning to get
our range and, try as We did, those
German machinegunners. who
seemed never to run out of ammu-
milton. could not be entirely cleaned
out. Sometimes I tried to imagine
they were our machineguns but un-
fortunately the Hitler variety sounds
of like a brittle, rapid snore, while
the Yankee make gives forth like a
barber cutting hair with hand clip
perS.
1t looked bad when, shortly before
noon, column was reported march,
Ing eastward along the coastal road.
The company in reserve was set
out to deal with the new threat.
At l2:4l pm. a sWeat-soaked run
ner-Pvt. Frank McElreath of Simp-
sonville, S. c., reported to the bat
talon command post:
We are here to relieve you. sir"
ne SAID. My battalion is just a
little piece out of town now"