The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-20


 was rapidly approaching its final stages.
 The Allied headquarters conn munique issued earlier today said German reinforcements had been moving Into the town in steady stream, but Roper's dispatch Sug- geSted that the backbone of the German defenses had been broken.
 In the hills overlooking the town, however, Allied and German troops were locked in a violent, shifting battle in which strong points changed hands repeatedly.
 One German force recaptured Hill 165, small elevation several hundred yards west of Casino from which the Nazis were able to direct a stream of artillery and mortar fire at the New Zealand infantry men battling through the streets.
 Other enemy units were en- trenched ill strength in the Dukes Palace" on the south side of the Via Casilina, just south of Casino, and in an ancient Roman amphl- theater across the road.
 The Germans launched six separ- ate counter-attacks against Cassino itself Sunday, but were driven back each time with heavy losses in dead and wounded. Another thrust against Castle hill, between Casino and Monastery hiI, was beaten of
 Other Nazi forces, however, ap- peared 10 have all but surrounded q New Zealand armored unit that broke into the Cassino railway sta- ton south of the town and poured murderous rain of mortar and artillery fire into the station.
 Repulse Foe
 A second Allied force of Indian troops remained isolated on Hang mans hill, on the lower slopes of Monastery hill, but all German at- tempts to break into their defenses were repulsed.
 There was no further word on the progress of an Allied tank column reported striking westward along a specially-built road northwest of Monastery hill. The Allied armor was reported Sunday to have plunged on past Mount Albaneta in an apparent attempt to cut across the Via Casilina and seal or the enemy's line of retreat from the CaSsino sector.
 Bitter patrol fighting continued in the lower Garigliano valley and on the 5th Army beachhead below Rome, but there were no important changes In the opposing battle lines,
 British 9th Army troops on the Adriatic coastal front repulsed sev- eral German patrol attacks, infiict- ing heavy casualties on the enemy, and several enemy strong points were smashed by artillery fire,
 American Marauder and Mitchell medium bombers Spearheaded the Allied aerial offensive in central It. ally, bombing the San Stefano and Porto Ferrajo docks on the west coast and railroad targets at Orte, Orvieto, Arezzo, Avezzano, Valmonte and Fabriano, north and east of Rome.
 Warplanes
 Other Allied warplaneS hammered at the enemy lines throughout the 5th Army battle area and broke up Q German fighter bomber raid on Allied positions just east of the southern end of Casino. American Liberators and RAF Halifaxes and Wellingtons followed up the daylight raids with an ate tack last night on the north Italian shipbuilding center of Monfalcone, just northwest of Trieste.
 Large explosions and fires were touched off in submarine workshops and m aircraft plant and chemical factory in the town. and large freighter was left burning in the nearby canal.
 Two waves of German bombers struck at an Allied convoy of the north African coast last night and early today, but Allied sources said the attacks were broken up success fully. At least one enemy bomber was destroyed.
 Seventeen Allied planes were lost in yesterdays operations, including heavy raids into Austria and Jugo. slavia, and g German planes were ...xS-;.:...-l...-.s x.- <. .. ::..,,