Evening star., 1944-02-04
Nazis OpenBig Drive NearRome>
Claim Nettuno Forces Encirc|ed;
Attacks RepuIsed> Allies Declare
RommeI Reported
Back in Italy
ToLeud Germans
MAP on Page A-12.) J
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
ITALY, Feb. 4.-Marshal Erwin
Rommel, the Germans master
defense tactician, was reported
back in Italy directing Naz
strategy today, and Allied head
quarters disclosed that the Ger
mans have launched their ex-
pected big offensive against the
Anzio-Netturno beachhead below
Rome, supporting their assaults
with terrific firepower and tank
charges.
The Germans, reinforced along
the perimeter of the bridgehead
struck four times against the Brit
ism and Americans, who are reported
to have poured more than six divi.
sions ashore.
Attacks Repulsed, Allies Say.
In each case, Allied headquar-
ters said, the Nazis were repulseo
with heavy losses, and the Allies
improved their positions slightly.
GA German high command COM
munique broadcast by the Berlin
radio and heard in London today
said Allied forces have been en-
circled in the Nettuno bridge
head. "On the enemy landing
beachhead Of Nettuno major
enemy forces we're encircled by
counterattacks," the communique
said. Relief attacks were re-
pulsed"
(On other sectors of the italian
front, the communique said,
f1uctuating battles were in prog
ress with both sides showing
extreme doggedness.'o
Meanwhile, to the south, on the
Casino front American troops of the
5th Army were fighting flercely in
the outskirts of the German strong
hold. Fighting with tanks against
Nazis who had to be cleaned out Of
rubble-cushioned dugouts and cellars
in methodical and bloody fashion.
The German Air Force, almost alb
sent from italian skies for several
days, returned to support the
thrusts against the Allies below
Rome.
Three Successive Thrusts.
The enemy opened his offensive
with three successive attacks north
of Padiglione, miles northwest
of Anzio. They also lunged out at
the Americans in the area west OF
Cisterna, where the Americans had
driven to the outskirts of that APP
plan Way town IA miles northeast
of Anzio.
Padgilione Is about miles
below Campoleone, farthest ad-
vance of the British who had ap-
preached to within 16 miles of
Rome. Allied headquarters an
nouncements that the German
attacks had been repulsed indi-
Gated, however, that the British
had not been thrown back that
distance. The German attack
may have been aimed at the
British flank)
In repulsing the attack the Allies
captured 140 prisoners.
The offensive aimed at driving the
British and Americans back into the
sea from their beachhead and the
strong house toulouse resistance Of
fered at Casino appeared to be the
twin parts of a German strategy to
fight off the Allied threat aimed at
trapping large part of the German
10th Army.
Fierce Fighting at Casino.
Some of the fierceSt fighting ever
seen in the Mediterranean theater
was taking place at Casino, where
the Germans held grimly in the face
of the fury of the American attacks
and the storm of artillery shells.
American patrols once penetrated
toward the center of the town, but
were forced to fall back to the out
skirts when they encountered anti
tank guns and strong posts.
The Germans also put in two un-