The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-01-27
U. S., British
 Forces Smash
(Continued from Page D

Germans in imminent danger of entrapment between two strong AL lied forces may be sealed.
 Bitter Struggles
 Meanwhile bitter struggles were in progress along the Garigliano front. In the northern sector, the French were slowly turning the Cassino anchor of the Gustav line. A fierce fight was on for the pos session of Mt. Belvedere, 2,500-foot height five miles due north of Cas- Sino.
 In the center, American troops battling just south of Casino con- tinued to improve their positions. They were hampered seriously by German mine fields, artillery and other gunf1re.
 Lieutenant Jacob L. Devers, deputy supreme commander in the Mediterranian theater, reported that the Fifth Army had massed the largest concentration of guns he had ever seen on any front.
 However, there still was no con- f1rmation that the Americans had crossed th Rapido river in force or had entered Casino, main bastion of the Gustav line. A patrol two days ago reported the Germans had evacuated Casino and taken up strong positions in the surrounding heights.
 (The Italian government radio at Bari reported last night that the Americans had captured Cassino).
 French elements of the Fifth Army seized important high ground" north of Casino, the headquarters communique an- nounced.
 "On the Adriatic flank action was limited to intensive patrol activity the communique said.
 Allied warships continued to support British troops on the Tyrr- henian Sea end of the Fifth Army front with bombardments of high ways in the Formia area Tuesday night.
 Counter Attack
 The German counter attack against the beachhead south of Rome touched of fierce clash, but the Allied command regarded it as of only local significance as the in vaders steadily famed out against generally stiffening opposition.
 The counter attack occurred about 13 miles due east of the in vasion port of Nettuno and about four and one half miles inland at the northern end of the Pontine Marshes. Littoria is about five miles from the Appian Way, coastal highway to Rome.
 The reinforcement of the tnva- sion forces with troops, supplies and armament was ahead of schedule, an announcement said, but weather was worsening and de- lays may be encountered.
 Admiral Sir John H. D. Cun- ningham, Allied naval commander in the Mediterranean, and Vice Admiral Henry K. Hewitt, Amer ican naval commander in the Med iterranean, congratulated Rear Ad- miral Frank J. Lowry, who com- manded the invasion fleet, and all hands participating in the landing operation.
 Bad weather limited aerial oper- ations yesterday, but light bombers attacked railway objectives in Gen. tral Italy and fighters maintained patrols over the beachhead and battlefront areas. Three enemy planes were shot down and two AL lied aircraft were lost.
 Text of C0mmuniQue
 Allied Central Mediterranean Forces:
 American and British forces who landed south of Rome have been further reinforced. The beach, head has been improved by limited advances.
 Further south, French troops have gained important high ground on the main Fifth Army front, while American troops have made local advances against stiff opposi- tion in the Casino area.
 "On the Adriatic flank, action was limited to intensive patrol &C., tivity.
 Mediterranean Allied Air Force headquarters:
 Bad weather limited air oper- ations yesterday, but light bombers, attacked road and rail objectives at Ceccano, Cisterna and Itrl.
 Fighter patrols were maintined over the beachhead Battlefront.
 Three enemy aircraft were des- troyed. Two of ours are missing"
 Washington, Jan. X-(UP)-The German command in Italy appay-l