The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-10

(ContiMued from Page O the beachhead heat off q German thrust around the headwaters of the Moletta River, southwest of Aprilia, while American infantry men halted several NaN attacks southeast of the town. Heavy Casualties
 Heavy casualties were inflicted on one enemy patrol attacking the Am erican positions, and the Germans called Q temporary truce to permit the removal of their dead and wounded under the protection of Q Rd Cross flag.
 Brisk diminishing and artillery exchanges continued on tho main Sth Army front around Casino and in the lower Garigliano Valley, where high waters and mud pinned the bulk of the opposing armies to their trenches and foxholeS.
 Across the Italian boot, Canadian units of the 9th Army smashed a German patrol near Crecchio and British troops beat off a light at- tack. northwest of Casoli. Allied medium and light bomb- CTS again bore the brunt of the aer- ial offensive as bad weather kept flying fortresses and liberators grounded. Flying some 800 sorties with loss of only two planes, the Allied air forces battered a half dozen important communications points through which enemy sup plies and troops had been flowing southward to the battle lines.
 U. s. Marauders bombed a rail- road bridge and nearby installations at Montalto di Castro, 50 miles northwest of Rome, and Mitchells pounded the docks at the west coast port of San Stefano.
 American and RAF fighter-bomb- CTS dropped high explosives over the Monte Rotondo and Capranica Railway yards just north of Rome and Nad tank repair shop at Tivon, IS miles east of the capital Guns Silenced American WarhaWks staged the most spectacular raid of the day, however, racing out across the beachhead to strike at three big German Railway guns near the Cialnpino airflelds, on the main Naples Rome rail line. Two of the German guns were knocked out, despite a vicious nak barrage thrown up by anti-aircraft batterise hidden all around the big cannon.
 Capt. Don R. Urquhart Medford. Wis. leader of the formation and a veteran of 60 missions, said the WarhaWks dived to within 1,200 feet Of the ground before releasing their bombs
 We got hit near the center gun and other on one of the end guns" he said. I'm sure we finished two of them"
 Capt. Benjamin L. Rorie, Hot Spring, Ark, also was credited with hitting the enemy guns. despite the fact that his Warhawk was hit several times by flak before reach- Ing tho target
 Other Warhawk formations pOIIlpSQ cnSHiy gun VMPbo~CnAtC'N' near Practica de Mare. north Of the beachhead, and hit three more giant guns hidden in . stone quarry near Campo Leone.
 Italians
 Two more of the scattered Ger. man raiders that bombed the Ando beachhead Wednesday night were disclosed to have been shot down, the Allied comfnunique said, and one of the Allied planes reported missing after Wednesdays opera tions has returned safely to base.
 Observers estimated that German casualties since late January toe taled approximately 40.000 killed. wounded or captured--some 24yO0O of them in the three unsuccessful NaN offensives against the beach, head.
 An official announcement said more than l6.O00 German prisoners have been taken since the start of the Italian campaign last EepteEn- Der.