Evening star., 1944-02-09
Bombing Raids Cripple Cisterna>
German Strong Point Near Rome;
Nazis Claim Several Miles Gain
American Forces
Seize Cliffs in
Casino Area
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Al
siers, Feb. 9.-American planes
poured tons of bombs on Cisterna
yesterday to cripple that main
strong point of the Nazi line
around the invasion bridgehead
below Rome, while Allied troops
struck out in aggressive patrol
activity" Allied headquarters
announced today.
German patrols also were active in
this vital sector, and Nazi artillery
continued a heavy shelling of the
beachhead.
CA Berlin broadcast declared
the Nazis had pierced Allied posi-
tiOns at several points in an at
tack From the west, north and
northeast" against the invasion
bridgehead, and reached planned
targets.
Later, a German communiQue
declared the Nazis had advanced
several miles in the bridgehead
area, capturing 700 prisoners.
Strong enemy counterattacks
with support of tanks and naval
artillery were repulsed," the bull
letin added)
The Allies further consolidated
their positions, Allied headquarters
said.
Fourth of Casino Occupied.
Meanwhile to the east American
troops battling into Casino have
occupied about one ne-fourth of that
town. front dispatches said, and at
one time fought to within rs yards
of the Benedictine Abbey on Mount
Casino.
The Americans launched a full
strength attack in the predawn
darkness yesterday to take the cliffs
surrounding the monastery on the
mountain. The Germans have held
the mountaintop for six days of
stern battle.
Riflemen fought up the monas-
terry heights under heavy German
hl bAliC1y anu iilOl III e llOlll bllc
north, west and south Allied ar
tillery firing on Casino laid a tre-
mendous barrage from the east side
of the Rapido River. Waves of
Allied bombers pounded German
heavy gun positions in the noun
tains.
Civilians Reported Sheltered.
The Army newspaper Stars and
Stripes said Italian prisoners told
American officers that 1000 Italian
civilians were sheltered in the
monastery This ancient home of
the Benedictine monks has been
spared by American artillery be-
cause of its religious and cultural
Importance.
British troops also made gain
on the Casino front.
American Mitchells in morning
and afternoon raids pounded build
ings in Cisterna, where the enemy
had concealed tanks and guns, and
crewmen said the bombs leveled
a large part of the town, which is
Is miles northeast of Anzio.
Converted Into Fortress.
Cisterna has been a model town
OF the Pontine agricultural develop
ment. The Germans have converted
it into a fortress. From it they have
launched some of their fercest at
tacks on the beachhead
In one sector west of Cisterna
American and German parallel
formations attacked simultaneously
yesterday in the general confusion
Bayonet fighting between rival pa
trolls was reported from another
sector.
At one strategic crossroad called
''Femina Morta' Dead Woman the
Germans occupy houses on one side
of the road and the Americans are
in houses on the other side.
GA dispatch to Stockholm by
the n-controlled Scandi-
navian Telegraph Bureau de-
clared the waters off Nettuno
looked like a ship graveyard"
as a result of German air attacks
on Allied shippingD
1,500 Aerial Sorties.
Allied planes flew 1900 sorties
throughout the day, striking hard
at German troop concentrations,
airfields and railyards over a wide
area and losing not single plane
More guns we're brought up to join
the artillery barrage supporting the
American assault against Casino
to the east, and fighting continued
in the streets
The Germans still hold the crest
of Mount Casino overlooking Cas-
sino and still cling to a corridor
leading to the town.
(The German-controlled Vichy
radio said the Allies had thrown
10000 men and 400 tanks, strong
ly supported by artillery, into a
violent attack on the Casino
front in an effort to relieve pres
sure on the Anzio beachhead)
Nazi Patrol Routed.
Across Italy, on the 9th Army
front, German patrol of 60 men
with weapons including fame
throWers, thrust into Allied terri
tory near Orsogna, but Allied forces