The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-01-11

British units on the left wing of
the Allied offensive line inched for
ward along the bend Of the Garig-
liano river in a holding maneuver
that served the twin purpose of
threatening the right flank Of the
Casino defenses and of protecting
the advancing Americans from a
German Ranking attack.
One American column struck
north of the Rome road to drive the
Nazis from the l,700-feet crest OF
Mount Piperni, less than a mile east
of Cervaro. South Of the road, other
American infantrymen stormed over
Mount Tricchio and pushed on to
within three miles of Casino for
an advance of two miles.
Front reports indicated that the
battle was increasing in intensity
all along the 5th Army front, with
the Germans putting up their fierc-
est resistance around Cervaro and
in the mountains flanking the road.
The right wing of the American
line pushed on through the cap
tured village of San Giusta Sunday
morning and fought its way onto
the slopes Of Mount Piperni,
Throughout the day the fighting
swayed back and forth across the
crest of the ridge until at dusk the
Germans pulled out, abandoning
many of their dead and wounded
on the field.
Equally bitter fighting flared
along the southside OF the high
way. where American infantrymen
battled through foot-deep mud and
SHOWS TO clear the enemy from
Mount Trocchio and open the way
for a drive into Casino.
Further South
Further to the south, British
troops captured isolated Mount
Cedro and consolidated their posi-
lions overlooking the approaches to
the Liri river valley.
On the British 9th Army front
along the Adriatic coast. increased
patrol activity was reported on both
sides. One German platoon was
ambuShed and cut to ribbons by
New Zealand infantrymen.
= German artillery poured a heavy
barrage into the most advanced 9th
Army positions along the Arielli
river, apparently in an effort to dis
rupt British preparations for n
resumption Of the drive on Pescara,
eight miles TO the north.
(The German radio yesterday
said feverish preparations for a
new attack were under way behind
the 9th Army lines.)
Allied heavy bomberS went back
into action with twin raid on the
Jugoslav railroad center of Skolpje
and Sofia - the second Allied at
tack on the Bulgarian capital IN
II hours.
Other medium bombers struck
ahead OF the 9th Army at the Adri-
attic port of San Benedetto and
enemy installations in Palena, IS
miles east of Rome. At the same
time. Allied planes crossed the
Adriatic to bomb enemy shippinug
in the Jugoslav port Of Vela Luka,
on the island OF Korcula.
Planes Destroyed
Nine enemy planes were destroyed
In the day-long operations against
loss OF three Allied aircraft.
British warships again turned
their guns on the German held sup
ply ports on the central Adriatic
coast. The Allied headquarters
communique revealed that the de-
stroyers Jervis and Janus sank
shelled railroad trains on the coastal
line north and south Of Civitanova
Friday night. The warships also
bombarded the Vivitanova harbor
area and then ranged 20 miles fur
ther up the coast to hammre An
coma.
German shore batteries countered
the warShip fire, but the COM
munique said the enemy Smelling
was intellectual.
The deStroyers Tumult and Troub
Ridge followed up the attack Sat
urday night, Smelling San Benedetto
harbor and German military trains
along the coast. The warships also
intercepted four schooners and bat
tered them so heavily thta their
crows were forced to abandon ship.