Evening star., 1944-01-22
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flank attack apparently had taken
them by surprise.
American Rangers and British
Commands of the 5th Army spear
headed the new leapfrog landing,
the biggest sea-borne attack in Italy
since the invasion near Salerno In
September.
Returning to an advanced airbase
IN Italy, pilots who few a sunrise
cover for the landings said they had
little or no artillery fire from the
shore and that there we're no fires
on the beach.
Sweeping back and forth over the
assault area in P-40 Warhawks at
5000 feet, the pilots found no enemy
aircraft during their first few pa
trolls. They said weather was ideal
tor the operation.
They reported boats already
beached along the coast and said
some landing craft already were
going back out to the ships for addi-
taonal loads.
In Preparation for Weeks.
An Associated Press correspond
ent with the 5th Army said the am
phibious assault has been in prepa-
ration for weeks. For days the
waters of the Italian coast along
the 5th Army front had been black
with huge concentrations of ships.
AS far as is known at 5th Army
headquarters, he said, no attempt
was made by Nazi planes, subma-
rines or mosquito boats to attack
the shipping at anchor waiting for
the night when it would carry the
assault to the enemy.
c'1n view of the impoSsibility
OF breaking German resistance at
the Southern Italian 'front.'" the
German broadcast declared, "the
Allies decided in the course of last
night to resort to a system of
landings"
4 CUnder cover of darkness" the
broadcast continued, they sue
ceeded In forming bridgeheads
between Nettuno and the mouth
OF the Tiber south of Rome and
in occupying Nettuno Harbor.
There are as yet no details about
the progress of the heavy fighting
which developed since the early
hours of today"D
Entire Picture Changed.
The invasion changed the entire
picture in the battle of Italy, placing
Allied troops behind as well as in
front OF the enemy in that area, and
the next "a hours probably will
make the Germans decide whether
to stay in the pocket and fight it out
OF. withdraw northward.
Apparently they had no great
force In place to oppose the landings.
Moon, wind and light were con-
sidered in picking the hour of the
attack. The troops had several
hours Of night in which to get into
good positions ashore.
An Allied officer described the in
vasion as hazardous" and indicated
the stiftest resistance could be ex-
pected as soon as the Germans re-
covered from their first surprise.
AS soon as the first troops swept
ashore the whole invasion machin-
ely, so often hattle-tested, began
moving at top speed. Reinforce
ments waded to the shore and the
task OF getting guns, ammunition
and supplies to the beach started.
The Allies were in the rear of the
Gustav line" along the Garieliano
and Rapido Rivers, against which
the 5th Army has been battering for
10 days, and the Adolf Hitler" line.
thrown up some miles behind this
Withering Fire.
Ihe smash into the Liri Valley
came from the Casino area, where
American and French troops have
been pressing against the Gustav
Line. American troops crossed the
Rapido under whitening fre,"
communique said.
British troops, who crossed the
Lower Garigliano River early Mon
day, seized Tremensuoli, about a
mile north Of captured Minturno,
and farther inland occupied Vandra
about half mile north of the Gar.
isliano. The British took $50 pris-
OnerS.
The Allied landing followed ter
rife air attacks in which German
communications from the north were
shattered.
For the last few weeks the air
forces have been waging an inten-
sive ssoftening up campaign" direct
ed mainly against communications
leading into Rome and the air fields
OF the Rome area.
Rail Communications Cut.
IT. was definitely established two
days ago that Rome had been cut
OF from rail communications from
the north. At that time additional
relentless air attacks were made on
these lines.
On the eve of the invasion bomb +
ers ranged over the area between
Florence and Rome, smashing all
routes into the Eternal City.
Air attacks leading up to the land
ings included bomber raids yesterday
on airhelds near Marseille-bases
for German rpedo-equipped air.
craft.
All the experience gained in the
6ieAiAn and Salerpo landings were
employed in today's invasion opera T.