Evening star., 1944-02-21
Allies Hur| Back
Nazi
Blow atAnzio
Tanks and Infantry
Smash Forward
With Artillery Aid
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS,
Naples, Feb. 21.-American and
British forces have stopped a
supreme effort by densely-packed
German troops to wipe out the
Anzio bridgehead and have
thrown the enemy back 2 miles
toward Carroceto, Allied head
quarters announced today.
The Nazi steamroller advance
aimed down the Anziate highway
last Wednesday morning toward
Anzio, the core Of Allied beachhead
was halted only after all elements
OF Allied power were called into
play during 48 hours of the most
intense period of the fighting.
Our effort was very greatly as
sisted by magnificent support given
by Allied naval units, Allied air for
nations and both British and Amer
ican artillery the communique
said.
The German offensive reached its
peak before dawn Saturday. Then
American tanks and infantry, under
the cover of a heavy artillery bar
rage, began smashing forward at
$50 am. and were still rolling ahead
yesterday.
Nazis Swelling Armies.
The intensity of the enemy efforts
was demonstrated by the appear
ance OF elements of five regiments
within one 1,000-yard area. Six
enemy divisions threw their entire
strength into the assault. Three
others were held in reserve.
An Allied spokesman announced
the Germans, steadily swelling their
armies in Italy, now have 10 divi-
sions involved in the italian actions.
Nine Of these facing the beachhead,
1t was announced, are grouped under
the 14th German Army, commanded
by Gen. Eberhard Won Mackensen,
last reported on the Russian front.
He Is the son of the World War
general.
The bulk of the remaining divi-
sions stands on the main 5th Army
front behind the Casino defenses.
They comprise the 10th Army under
Gen. Heinrich Won Wellington. Both
armies still are under Field Marshal
Albert Kesselring.
Throwing everything they could
muster into a mighty southwark
stab to split the Allied beachhead
forces, the Germans had managed
to punch some 1000 yards below
Carroceto before their advance was
hurled back.
500 of Nazi Regiment Lost.
Their casualties were heavy. the
dead piling up in great numbers,
hundreds being wounded and at
least TOO falling prisoner.
Some of those captured said one
German regiment alone had lost 80
per cent of its strength.
Allied air operations yesterday
were devoted almost exclusively tc
attacks on the broken German
beachhead lines. Four-engined heavy
bombers again joined medium and
light bombers in bombing and
shooting up enemy concentrations
The Allies sent 900 sorties into the
air, the Germans sent up an esti-
mated 100, and the sky battles and
attacks on both sides of the beach
head ground battle lines were rap
idly rising to record peak when
the weather limited further forays
Three Allied aircraft were lost and
at least four German planes were
shot down.
No major developments occurred
yesterday in the 5th Army's Casino
front, although French forces re-
pulsed an enemy raid northeast of
Terelle. American troops held fast
to their positions in Casino itself
Patrols were active on the 9Th Army
front.
Nazis Sent Keeling.
The climax of the beachhead
struggle came Saturday, when the
German offensive begged down and
massed American tanks and troops
and British infantrymen jumped
OH with a counterpunch which sent
the Nazis reeling.
The 5th Army, which had been
bracing for a Nazi blow for weeks,
had held its counterattack for just
% (Cao TTATv Dono 1cI