The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-24

Simultaneously, American 240. millimeter field guns, the biggest cannon in the Allied Arensal, hurled tons of high explosives into the German enploymentS laong the base Of Mount Cassino and around the ancient Roman amphitheater Just south md west of the town.
 New Zealand units, supported heavily by tanks and shellt1re Te- hewed thelr assault on enemy BtrongpointS below Castle Hill, be-. yond the western outSkirts Of Cas- sino, and were disclosed to have made "Some little progresS' yester. day.
 The Germans were believed to have suffered heavy casualties in the fighting around Castle Hill and in sOries aof futile attneks against the Allied positions furahor north.
 NaSl artillery pounded repeatedly nt Allied bridges across the Rapido and at French positions near P0rs tellR and Castellone, north of Cas- gino.
 Front reports said the main en. emy positions in and around CaS. Sino comprised six strong points: The Hotel Des Roses in the south west part Of the town just off the Via Casilina: the Hotel Continental about three blocks tot he northwest; 1; the SoseAlled Dukes palace on the Via Vnsilinn, where the road turns westward toward Rome; the Coles aaptaa u1iFlmasK halUann tha 1Aala aa md the Hotel Des Roses; the Ro. man anphitheater. and q yellow building just west Of CassIno, about 300 yards from the Allied-held Castle Hill.
 Attacks Stymlcd
 From these positions the Nazls have been able ot hold off all AlIed attacks and at the samet inc have managed to lnfiltrate snipcrs be- hlnd the Allied lines, frequently catching the New zealanders be- tween two fires.
 Headquarters sources indicated the Allies would have to reduce these BtrongpolntS one by one in the bitterest kind of close quarters fighting.
 United Press War Correspondent James F. Roper reported that two or three more German tanks had broken into Cassino and were em- placed around the Continental hoe tel. Six other Nazi tanks were spotted and shelled on the road south of the towbn, butt here was no word on the results of the bom- bardment.
 Heavy artillery exchanges and patrol clashes continued on the AYi- Zio beachhead and on the British 9th Army front, but there was no important change hl the opposing battle lines.
 German aerial activity over the Casino area died away completely yesterday after brief furry We'd tlesday when about 40 inemy planes bombed and strafed the Allied lines, losing seven planes.
 BOmberS Strike
 Allied fighter-bombers struck hard at German gun positions around Casino. however, while American Marauders blasted the big Campo Di Marte freight yards at Flor cnce.
 Returning crewTnen said about i20 freight cars and other rolling stock were destroyed or damaged and that bomb hits were scored on tracks, warehouses and repair shops.
 Other Marauders bombed a rail. way bridge at Pontassieve, while fighter-bombers ranged along hte east and west coasts of tIaly at- tacking enemy shipping and costal communications.
 One enemy plane was destroyed in the day-long operations. while no Allied planes were missing.
 RAF Wellingtons and American Liberators picked up the offensive under cover of darkness early to- day, striking for the second success sive time att he Padua rail yards in northern Italy.