The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-15

RoME-NS-Its about time
someone told the story of the mixed
Canadian. American force IN Italy.
II any member OF the force start.
ed telling the story himself, no one
would believe him. Nor would any
one quite believe that there's really
commander like Brig. Gen. Rob
ert T. Frederick, who captures
towns and prisoners almost single
handed and has as many clusters
as Purple Heart will hold
Among First Into Rome
II anyone beat them into Rome
"Fredericks Freightsrs" would like
TO know who IL was. This mixed
group OF Canadian-Americans has
been setting records for daring OK.
ploits ever since II hit the shores
OF Italy last December.
Until now censorship has prevent.
ed the full story from being told.
Correspondents have had TO ignore
the force that wears the red arrow
head soldier patch marked "USA.
Canada" But they've figured anony-
mously in many OF the campaigns
most colorful stories.
Prize tale is the story OF their en-
try into Rome at $50 Sunday morn
ing on Highway Six. In one phase OF
the operations, two companies and
four armored vehicles started fight.
ing IL out with four self-propelled,
anti-tank guns. five tanks and a
force OF $50 Germans in the streets
OF Rome
II was a crazy battle with civil
laps peeking around the corners,
although there was nothing. humor-
Gus about the casualties. In the
midst OF fighting q group OF fas-
cists and Anei-fasciets were having a
private civil war. When Fredericks
asked them what was going on they
replied:
I'VE just want to be left alone to
settle this ourselves"
In Midst OF Fighting
At 10 o'clock that evening, Fred
erick, with seven men in q radio
equipped half track. staged a spec
tacular battle at the Marguerite
bridge. Germans were attempting to
blow up the Tiber span. In a pistol
shooting fray their driver was
killed, and four OF the seven men
were wounded. They captured IL
Germans. Three we're killed by
Frederick.
"Frederick's Freighters" sound
like force Of supermen. They are
self sufficient force. trained TO
carry their own equipment with
them. Hence the name.
The force went into the line last
December first. In nine days they
took three hills near Mignano. Al
lied forces weren't taking hills just
like that in those days. One was
La Defensa, which held up two Am
erican divisions for something like
six weeks, with the British trying
a simultaneous back door attack.
The force went in and captured the
hill on their first night. How? I'VE
simply tried a route the division
commanders thought was impossi'
ble," said Frederick.
Germans Caught Mapping
The Germans thought so too, and
hadn't bothered TO guard the pass
The force tackled II In hand-over
hand mountain climbing. That wal
when Frederick won both Silve'
Star and Purple Heart, while res
cuinS a wounded soldier.
They went back again on Decem
Der 30 10 take Mount Samucro near
Venafro and celebrate ChristmaS
day with Hill 1880 You've heard OF
Mount Maggiore? Everybody was
by.passing II as too tough when
"Frederick's Freightsrs" went after
ii in January. When It fell Il proved
the key TO the entire German defen.
sive line in that area.
But it was at the beschhead,
uyhnra thau rnohaH a.