Evening star., 1943-11-26
Italy
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Italy
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American and British light and
fighter -bombers raked enemy strong
points along the Sangro River from
the Town of Casol, Is miles inland
to the Adriatic in support of the 9th
Army holding its bridgehead.
Prisoners taken have confirmed
the demoralizing effect of the recent
bombing of frontline positions an
Air Force statement said.
Areas around Lanciano and Fos-
sacesia. short distance behind this
front. were particularly hit.
In long-range operations, Ameri-
can Mitchells bombed the Adriatic
port of Ancona and RAP Spitfires
crossed the sea to strafe German
vehicles near Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia
A statement from 1t. Gen. Carl A
Spaatz's air command reviewing re-
cent heavy bomber operations noted
that Flying For.resses and Liberia
tors OF Maj. Gen. James H. Doolit-
ties Strategic Air Force already
have made beginning against the
targets that hurt the enemy most,
citing raids into Germany, Austria
Northern italy. Southern France
and the Balkans.
Enemy Fighting Strength Lacking.
This partly has been possible be-
cause of the absence of enemy fight
er strength in Italy," the statement
added. Fighter bases now available
in Italy permitted the Tactical All
Force to sweep the skies of many
fighter aircraft that otherwise would
have harassed our bombers on the
way to and from the targets"
In September and October 36(
enemy planes were destroyed on the
ground and 309 shot out of the sky
the review said. Flying Fortresses
alone shot down 140.
The Strategic Air Forces losses
were "a planes. The bombers sank
four ships totaling $4,000 tons in
the period.
American heavy bombers dropped
10000 tons OF bombs in the two
months.
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Moatgom.
ery's forces had crossed the most
formidable obstacle yet in forcing
the Sangro, but still were con-
fronted by difficult enemy positions
in the hills ringing the valley.
Although enemy reports had men,
toned British thrusts With tanks
toward the hills commanding the
bridgehead, which yesterday was
reported nearly mile and a hall
deep, official announcements today
gave no information of any further
advance.
Bad weather impeded the job OF
building additional heavy bridges
across the flooded stream.
Brisk activity was reported in and
at the backbone of Italy. where
other 9th Army units captured some
high ground dominating the town
of Castel di Sangro from the north
west. Germans previously were re-
ported dynamiting and setting fire
to the town, presumably preparatory
to abandoning it.
A front-line dispatch from Asso-
ciated Press War Correspondent
Daniel De Luce quoted Gen. Mont
gomery as declaring the new bridge
head now was very firmly held and
secure"
1t was won in operations begun
just week ago and consolidated
against numerous Nazi counterat-
tacks and under almost constant
fire from batteries emplaced on hills
from to miles beyond the stream
We've finally got what we wanted
after hard fighting in dreadful
weather." Gen. Montgomery tolo
war correspondents, heaping words
of praise on his men. The soldiers
who have done this have risen tc
great heights. The whole
thing has been a very remarkable
performance on the part of the SOL
diers."
Sansro Bridges Washed Away.
The Sangro itself was one of the
greatest obstacles to the crossing
Under heavy rains that converted
lowland areas into bogs, the stream
rose feet on one occasion and be-
came a torrent. Men drowned as
they attempted to cross. Bridge:
were washed away.
The first assault was made by 8
few hundred infantrymen, who by
Saturday morning had spread out ir
the marshy ground on the enemy
side of the Sangro beneath the guns
with which the Germans command
the entire area from a high wooded
ridge.
Day by day reinforcements crossed
and steadily expanded the bridge
head under strong air cover. Pris
oners captured said the German
troops were under strict orders t.
yield no ground.
From the bridgehead to an inlan,
point about As miles from the Adri
attic the 9th Army now is pounding
against the Sangro line or its ap
proaches at almost all points.
Yesterdays communique said pa
trolls on the 9th Army left flank hat
clashed with the enemy west o
Castel di Sangro. Activity on tn,
mired-down 5th Army front to tn,
west was limited to artillery ex
changes and patrol clashes.
An Air Force announcement her,
said that photographs of Toulor
Harbor made after Wednesdays rait
by American flying Fortresses indi
Gated effective interruption of MAJ
submarine activities at the forme
French naval base. 1t was the mrs