The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-12

American troops beat back
a German attack southwest
of CiSterna, and the Yanks
and their British Allies held
firm all along the beachhead
II miles long and eight miles
deep, official reports said.
But the Germans cOntiH1~
ued to pour reinforcementa
into the area, and it appeared
that the battle will be a long,
hard struggle.
The worst weather since Chris.
mas grounded all Allied planes yesai
terday, depriving the hard pressed
ground forces Of urgently needed
support. Clearing weather was In !
prospect, however, and it seemed
likely that the ar assault on the
Nazis might be resumed and the,
building and strengthening Of thal
beachhead continued.
In lieu of aerial backing, tho
hard-f1ghting troops got Q hand
from number of British warshipa !
which steamed in close to the Ger
man positions above the British
left flank sector and poured shells
into the enemy ranks.
"a German coccuniQue said o.
violent Allied attack against new,
German lines near Aprida broke
down"-apparently a tacit acknowlaa
edgement that the Allies had res
gained at least limited initiative
in that particular sector 10 miles
north Of Anzio.)
(John DAILY reported In q CHS
broadcast from Naples that the
German offensive appeared to have
slowed down and that this morning
the situation on the beachhead dee
f1nitely appeared to be all right.
Front reports said British assault
forces attacked in hurricane yes
terday and edged forward in tho
area Of Aprilia, official accounts.
however, toll donly of German att
tacks against the British flank
southwest Of Aprilia, together with
the assaults on American positions
below Cisterna at the northeastern
arc of the beachhead.
1t was emphasized that while the
weight of the German attack app
peared to have eased to some de-
gree in the last "A hours, the Nazia
still were attacking and still were
pouring in reinforcements IN evis
dence preparation for stepping up,
The Allies, 1t appeared, deliber-
4nf~ %alp b. u
their beachhead, but meanwhile thu
Germans-hoping for their first
worthwhile victory in more than q
year, seemed determined to do
everything in their power to prevent
the Allies from taking Rome.
SIackening Of Activity
The slackening of activity on the
beachhead perimeter undoubtedly
was due in considerable measure
to the heavy rains, squalls, and slees
which turned the battlefieldS into
boys and kept the soldiers on both
sides budding in water filled spills
trenches.
Mud and the lack Of paved roads
cut down tank activity especially.
The battle Of the beachhead had
a direct bearing on the battle for
Casino, where the Americans were
slowly but surely winning despite
the heavy cost.
Ofi1cial accounts said the AmerA
leans were knocking out Germam
fortress-buildings one by one and
making slow but steady progress
In Casino itself.
In the mountains west Of Cassiue
the battle ragged as fiercely rs eve1.
The Germans chung desperately t0
the Casino position, knowing It IN
the keypoint Of the entire southern
front.
Front lines on the beach head
have not changed for several days
chiefly due to heavy rains, squalls
and sleet. A dispatch from Allied
headquarters in italy said.
The wintry rains and gales
grounded all Allied planes yesterday
and hampered the unloading Of sup
plies and reinforcements ct Q tina
when all information indicated thas
the fate Of the beachhead may D
decided In the next few days.
Taking over the air forces bUzss