-
 No- 1



 bITII THE FIFTH. ARI Y IN ITjJLY


 the Combined
 From Sholto Watt, Representing

 Canadian Press

 Nottuno, February 3,1944


 is
 Bearer of one cf Italy’s most famous names, Young prince Stcphano Borghese

"father” of thousands of Italian civilians in the battle zone of the nzic-Nettuno
 ui




beachhead. Villa. Borghese, which is a smaJLl palace of Classical Italian architecture,

 the prince is
stands in a wooded park between the towns of Anzio and Nettuno and



mayor of the combined commune.



 The prince is out early and late with officers of the allied military Government,

and shows the work. is of the rare examples of leader-
 strain of long days of He one



 of the which
ship in this stricken country assumed by a member Italian aristocracy,

even in peace was not noted for devotion to social service.


 The main problem is eleven thousand people whome the Germans evacuated from


Anzio and who housed in temporary buildings in the countryside there
 Nettuno, are are



considerable stock of food in this region, which the allied military Government has

been allocating to civilians so as to cur own valuable shipping space for
 spare

military needs. The prince has been assisting in the organisation of food distribution,

setting up bakeries and controlling the slaughter cf livestock. In the countryside

 tenants, is the
numbers of peasants are his ovm but he assailed daily by personal

 of multitudes of other civilians in this When relatives sought in
problems area. orc



Allied Controlled Territory, or when a child is killed by a. shall and a priest must

be found and burial arranged, the prince is called in. The prince must explain to


cxacuces that the military authorities will not permit them back in jjizio or Nottuno,

which are still under shellfire, and whore the roads must be reserved for military traffic


and ■ he has to civilian needs to the
 present military.
 The civilian destinies of the beachhead arc in the hands of an oddly-assorted trio.


There are the prince, a slight, active figure, full of nervous energy and a witty Texan


of unceasing good humour, and there is
 major Elmer Holmgrcen, a massively-impertUrbable
and efficient police inspector from Scotland Yard, Captain Arthur mack, both of the

billed Military Government. The prince spooks excellent English and the others new


something of Italian, and altogether the civilians are much better looked after than

would normally by expected in a small area still the scone cf intense fighting, prince

Stcphano Borghese is a near relative of the head of his house, prince Borghese, who is


now in Sicily. His own family arc in Borghese palace in Remo.




 +++++++++



MINISTRY OF INFORIiATIQN
 -
 No, 2



 ITA L Y


 From SHOLTO NATT, Representing The COMBINED CANADIAN PRESS.


 With the Fifth Army in Italy.


 Nettling, February 2,


 The Germans are massing troops to hold the Cisterna road junction on the



□ jittoria-Rorae highway, which they must keep if they are to hold the mounting Allied



strength in the Anzio-Nettuno beachhead. Numerous battalions of Germans are now




grouped around Cisterna, and elements of several divisions have been identified


there. Among these are units from sone of the Cemans’ best troops, and it is now



clear that of their best soldiers from the
 some fighting are now being withdrawn

Fifth Amy’s Cassino front to this sector.



 However, even with the recent successes on the Cassino front, no early junction


of forces is expected here in view of the fact that the terrain between Cassino and



the is
 beachhead very well suited to delaying defensive action, Relatively few men




could hold the advance to only a few miles daily,

 Counter-attacks are expected on the beachhead, but there is less reason to-day .

to anticipate a large-scale counter-offensive. The Germans are believed to be having


transport difficulties, largely owing to the Air Force attacks on their lines of


communication, Their air activity on this sector is also slowed down. In five days
 ■<?



during the initial stages of this landing, the Nazis lost two hundred aircraft. They


are now concentrating more on the forward lines than on port areas, though every day

now we .are still turning away three or four sorties. To-day they came over with 25


planes, but reports of damage are small.


 In the flat country beneath the Laziali hills, where scattered oaks and
 open,


pines grow in rich, red soil, any one of the frequent stone farmhouses is a potential

Ceman fortress. Sometimes self-propelled guns are soncealed in them, with the back


walls of the houses knocked out. The is specialising on machine-gun and mortar
 enemy


fire to keep troops away, but ßritish sector at least Ceman
 our on one
 s infantry is

described as not so hot when it comes to close-quarter fighting.


 But this beachhead is now the scene of a hard struggle at several points around


the perimeter. To-day I visited, the forward areas, and the front lines could be marked


by columns of smoke spaced around the segment of a circle which we hold, eight miles



deep and fourteen miles long,-based on Anzio and Nettuno, On one sector where the


infantry pushed along the road towards Albano in the Laziali hills they had the
 enemy


on either side of them, only two or three kilometres on each side of the road. In



villages ahead, the Italians are refusing to leave their houses, though the places are


 /sometimes shelled
 - 2 -




 and numbers of them died in cellars because they
sometimes shelled by both sides,

would not either allied instructions to leave.
 obey German or



 On this sone road I witnessed German strafing from the oar only throe er four


 of banked dour, the road behind
hundred yards ahead. Fpur aircraft a 25~planc raid on
 - -




us and were overhead before we could stop the Jeep and dive for the ditch. Firing burst

out all and black puffs of ack-ack covered the sky above. Ahead, pianos dived
 round,

down and fired, and as quickly soared up and made away, we moved forward and found

 vehicle strafed and soldier dead beside it. Then from the clouds plunged the
a a lying

 of matter of seconds plane shot down in
avenger, one our fighters. In a one enemy was



the fields ahead and others were streaking for home, and a sudden eerie quiet fell on


the road.


 This road, which is long ord straight, is very tempting for air strafing. Yesterday

the tried the trick and shot ambulance with six but only lightly
 enemy same up an men,

injured the driver and once again one of four attackers was destroyed.

a Prom points on our bridgehead you cor see the towers of the now silent Kone Radio.


Tliis afternoon to the north-west there were billows of black smoke from the position

I judged to be the mouth of the Tiber. I visited one British headquarters not far from


the enemy lines which is sometimes a disagreeably active place. Yet Italian fam-,

labourers arc still pottering around the barn, their steers ruminating in the enclosures.

Soldiers tea British soldiers when
 were brewing -
 count it a day given to perdition

they do not brew tea -
 and here a British officer told me of the situation around.


It was a matter of holding certain particular positions till armour could be brought

 to blast the from the farmhouses.
up Gomans The road was very deceptive, being

primitive tracks off the main highway, and there had been hair-raising adventures at


 There tragic mistake two nights four officers running into the
night. was one ago,

German lines being killed by machine-gun fire. "One of ho said, "was twin
 them", my


brother", and ho paused, "but you will be wanting to hear about the battle positions.

I' 11 show you on the map" »




 Yet another night adventure I heard of at this Headquarters had a happier issue.

The ration truck had gone out but missed the way and the driver, reaching what he


thought was his destination, called out "is this the Blanks?" He was answered in


Goman and turned the truck around more than quickly, but the Gomans opened up fire.

He and the brew jumped for it and ran.



 It is noisy at night around hero. There arc
 very frequent air-raid alarms, and


raids are not so infrequent. There is shelling so far every night on the ports we use.



These factors spoil the amenities of the desirable seaside villa where I write. It is


called "Villa Virtue" by the correspondents, virtue being inforced rather than voluntary,
and it is situated on "Bomb Bay".



 +++++++++




UHISTRY OF INFORIAITION
 4.2,44. No,. 3.
 V.C, RETURNS TO E.A, COMMAND TO SEE ACTION

 Back in East Africa Command 'because he knows and likes African troops and 'because he


■believes now is the time to go East and see some action is Major E.C.T. Wilson, who won



the Victoria Cross in Somaliland.


 "I have always wanted to come hack," he told a military correspondent, "because I have

the happiest recollections of the little
 Myasas and Somalis and, from news one gets in

the home Press about East Africa, I gathered that now was the time to come and see some



action. I am a
 very keen African soldier and very anxious to sec the African troops in


action against the Japanese as I know something of their potential fighting qualities.

 "Although I have no knowledge of jungle warfare, I would back the East African and the


Somali against all comers for cheerful toughness, natural aptitude for ficldcraft and


ability to stand up to a bad climate.

 "I am confident they arc reaching a standard which will give the Japs a very nasty head-

ache ."


 Major Wilson, a Regular Officer, whose home is at Much Haddam, Hertfordshire, is in the


East Surrey Regt. In 1937 he was seconded to the Ist Bn. K.A.R. in Tanganyika, and served


with that battalion until the following year.
 Ho then sent to Somaliland to take command, of the of the Somaliland
 was up Nyasa Company

Camel Corps. He gave up that command in February 1940 to form a Vickers machine-gun

Company of Somalis.
 It was with this company, under the command of the Northern Rhodesian Regiment, that


Major (then Captain) Wilson, suffering from malaria and untended wounds, helped to hold

off Italian attacks for several days in spite of heavy casualties. His and the company’s

efforts earned him the Victoria Cross.

 He when British Somalialnd fell and taken to Adi Ugri, in Eritrea; he
 was captured was



released by General Platt’s forces on April 1, 1941.

 After his and there joined the Long
 release, Major Wilson wont to the Middle East


Range Desert band of adventurers whose exploits far behind Rommel’s lines make
 Group -




some of the war’s most thrilling reading. He was adjutant and then Second-in-Command of


the LRDG and of active service with them.
 saw plenty

 of East Ho
 In June 1942 Major Wilson wont home and joined a battalion Surreys.


was married last May,

 "I had bit of change," ho said, "and then asked to come
 a year’s training and a a



 had four years in East considered I had good know-
back to the K.A.R. I had Africa, a




ledgc of Nyasa natives, spoke' their language fluently and I had also learned Swahili,

so I felt I knew more about that sort of soldiering than any other. And here I am,



 "Although I have only been back a couple of days, several Nyasa and Somali askari


that I knew before have come
 and greeted me."
 up

 old link with East Africa his grandfather, the
 Major Wilson’s family has an -




Rev, C.T. Wilson, was one of tho missionary pioneers in Uganda last century.




 MILITARY AFFAIRS
 4>2«2|4 -
 No.A


 "TISH" ML OVERBOARD •




 While the officers of formerly American having
 H.M.S.NET/PORT, an destroyer, were



dinner when the ship lay at anchor in Scottish waters there
 one night recently, 'was



an ominous splash outside.

 It came just as they were finishing soup. The quartermaster, half-slithering,

half-jumping down the ladder, burst into the wardroom.


 ’’Tish has fallen overboard J" he panted.

 In flash the officers were the the
 a
 making for ladder. Tish was ship’s mascot,

 seven-months-old puppy. She the favourite of the ship’s company and regarded
a. was


as a
 lucky omen.


 First the deck Sub-Lieutenant Michael Joseph, R.N.V.R. the time
 on upper was By

the First .Lieutenant round
 arrived, Joseph had stripped naked. Then, with a line


his waist, he dived into the icy water.

 In the brilliant moonlight, the officers on dock could see Tish struggling

twenty yards from the shouts
 ship. By they directed Joseph towards her. Just as



she stopped swimming, Joseph grabbed her the scruff of the neck and held her
 by up.



 "I was only in the water about five minutes, but it seemed ages," said


Sub-Lieatenant Joseph. "I’ve never been so.cold in ray life,"


 The First Lieutenant, Lieut. J.P.Evans, D.S.C., R.N.V.R., of Bristol, said;

 it The temperature of
"Nobody knows how Tish fell overboard, but was a near thing.

 fortunately it calm. Another few
the sea. was
 only J 8 degrees Fahrenheit, but was




seconds and Tish would have gone. Our motor-boat picked them both up. Joseph was



almost as stiff as Tish, but he recovered more quickly.

 We had to wrap
 "Inside a quarter of an hour he was back finishing his dinner.
Tish in warm blankets and give her a drop of brandy before she was herself again.

 black-and-tan mongrel, bought for 12/61. at an Edinburgh dog shop
 Tish, a 'was



last October. "But for all that, she’s important to us," added Lieutenant Evans.



 Sub-Licut. Joseph, who is twenty-two years old, lives at Newbury, Berkshire.

 two—and—a—half years, and received his commission eighteen
He has been in the Navy for


months After the war he wants to be an actor# His father is Michael Joseph,
 ago.

head of the well-known firm of publishers.

 commanded by Lieut,-Commander 'J.A.Grinham, R.N.V.R., of Bristol,
 H.M.S. NEWPORT,

 in the last six months.
has steamed more than 20,000 miles

 Both Lieut.-Commander Grinham and Lieut, Evans belonged
 to the Severn Division



of the before the war.
 R.N.V.R.




NAVAL AFFAIRS
 4.2,44. No. J.



 CENSUS OF CHANNEL ISLuND REFUGEES
S

 RECORD BEING COMPILED


 ji census is being taken of all refugees from the Channel Islands who came to



 Britain after the fall of France in the summer cf 1940.


 Its purpose is to give the Channel Islands Refugees Committee, which looks after



 welfare questions, an up-to-date record of each refugee.


 The Committee, of which Lord Justice du is and which the
 Parcq Chairman, on




 Ministry cf Health is fools that record of this kind will be invaluable
 represented, a




 when the time comes for making arrangements for the return cf Channel Islanders to


 their former homes.


 The when completed will other information: and home
 census give, among present


 addresses and present and past occupations.


 It is estimated that there are about JO,OOO Channel Islanders living in different


 of the about half of whom in Lancashire, the West Riding, Cheshire
 parts country, are




 and Scotland. There are also large colonies in the Exeter, Bath and Bristol areas.




 Refugees who have not received a census form are asked by the Committee to apply


 for one at the nearest Citizens Advice Bureau which handles Red Cross messages. So



 far forms have been completed covering 6,000 adults and J,OOO children under 16.




 MINISTRY OF HEALTH.
 HEALTH.
 4. 2.44, No. 6.


 ALAi.iEIN (W IS CAIRO'S "WiBLEY ST-JDIUM"


 There are no pay kiosks and turnstiles at the Alamein Club, Cairo, and at Weekends



thousands of Lien and women of the Allied services stream into the ground to see Soccer



and Rugby matches that would come under the "first-class fixture" classification in


their home lands.


 "The best games -
 free.’" is the policy of the club's go-ahead committee.

 As its name .suggests, Alamein Club commemorates the desert victory and the




 .
spacious ground, with stands and is the gift of the
 club-house, nearby swimming pool,


Egyptian people the via
 to men and women,who flung the Axis out of Egypt and, later,


Cape Bon, all Africa.


 The committee is made of officers of the S. A. and IT. Z. forces
 up British, U.S.,


and Egyptian supporters and the club has since its in Autumn 1942 quickly
 opening


become the hub of the services' world here.
 sporting


 Located G-ezira Island, few minutes walk from the centre of Cairo, the
 on
 only a

 ♦ .




ground is probably the only one in the world' where Rugby and football can be watched



against a background of tall palm trees and bright dhow sails on the nearby Nile.


Crowds of 15,000 arc "average" and when a United Nations sports festival was staged

at New Year, it is estimated 40,000 attended over the two days to see first-class



Rugby, American gridiron, Soccer and'baseball games.


 Wanderers, pick of all British football talent in
 Egypt, play here against crack


Egyptian teams; it is the happy hunting ground of the unbeaten South African Rugby


 Now R. A.B. and XVs. battle its trim turf and next its
XV; Zealand, Army on - summer




big cricket "circle" will be shared between the best cricket Xis in Egypt and star


American baseball squads.


 The club also offers well-furnished open-air cafe bright with
 a lounge, an




striped sun umbrellas and facilities for most
 games.


 Bqnces and boxing shows are other attractions.




MILITARY ABAIRS.
 4«2.44 -
 No.B*




 NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST, OR USE ON CLUB TAPES
 BEFORE 0850 B. S. T. (i.e. FOR EVENING PAPERS) ON
 1 944.
 FRIDAY,. FEBRUARY 4?
 THIS EMBARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING

 ANY MESSAGES PILED WITH THE EMBARGO.




 H*M*S* SUFFOLK’S RECORDS RECORD , ..,


 H.M.S, SUFFOLK, famous participant in the BISMARCK action, claims



to hold more records than any other ship in the Royal Navy -
 a claim



which no one disputes,as the records are gramophone records and the ship


has Been unofficially adopted hy His Master’s Voice.

 ”It all Began,” said Lieut*-Commander J.A* Stoßart, R*N*V.R., the



ship’s entertainment officer, ’’wheri gome from the H.M.V* works
 people

came on hoard to see some equipment which they had made operating under



service conditions. Vo struck up a friendship and soon afterwards they


wrote to ask if could Did hesitate? V/e did not!”
 they adopt us* we




 Already H.M.S. SUFFOLK has received many tilings Besides records

from the generous 'Workers at Hayes, Middlesex -
 hooks, magazines, games,


a special all-round microphone for the ship’s broadcasting ’’studio”,

and a cheque for £lOO were the first presents to arrive. Then a
 among



photograph of H.M.S* SUFFOLK was used for H.M.V. ’s staff Christmas card



and the end of 194-3, nearly'3,ooo copies had been
 early September,
 "
 as as

 / so qq
 -2-



sold for the benefit of the ’’Suffolk Fund”. "Suffolk ;?eek" was held



in October at the canteen
 works, -with entertainments every day in the


 during the midday and midnight .lunch breaks. The sale of
 programmes


brought in £5O. On another occasion, a dance held at the H.M.V.



recording studios, at -which Victor Sylvester/ Qeraldo and Felix

 . j
Mendelssohn gave their services. This made a profit of £95 for the


fund.



 Another dance organised by the The
 Shop Stewards made £55.

proceeds of the H.M.V. Christmas Braw...are expected, to have added another


£3OO, and future plans include boxing shows, raffles, weekly collections,
 w




■whist drives and more dances.


 The officers and men of H.M.S. SUFFOLK are doing all they can to



 try to repay this kindness. They sent the firm a carved ship’s crest



for Christmas; • and at each port of call they hope.to buy a collection


 of local-curios dances
 as prizes for H.M.V. and whist drives. Another


scheme the is to
 gramophone company anxious encourage is "Pen-Friendships."

Several of the ship’s company are already corresponding with workers at

4 .




Hayes.


 This influx of recorded talent has by no means damped the enthusiasm


of the ship’s company to entertain themselves and others. At Durban


they put on a first-class radio programme and the weekly concert is a




big event in the ship. The Royal Marines band on board can provide

classical or dance music and one of its members used to be first



violinist in the-B»B»C»’s Scottish Orchestra. -
 The entertainments


officer must have been heard by many millions, for before the war he


■was one of the famous Kentucky Minstrels choir.

 At least of SUFFOLK’S other records was broken this year.
 one H.M.S.


Although she has steamed over 150,000 miles during the past three
 years


 at
 some of her ship’s company have always managed to spend Christmas

home. in 1940 she was at Glasgow, in 1941 at South Shields, and in 1942


at London, but last year her crew were not able to get ashore.



 I




NAVAL AFFAIRS
 4,2.44. -
 No, 9.
 t




 J,JOO-MELES JOURNEY TOOK JO YEARS




 BENGHAZI - Mon of a Bigorian Pioneer company shopping in the market


here have found. 82-ycars-old Alhaddji Abu Bakara, priest and trader, who


left his village, Kofa Bala, near
 Ka.no, Nigeria, over 60 years ago to



perform the Moslem rites at Mecca and has never returned.


 His journey to Mecca and then on to Benghazi, a distance of 3,500 miles,

took him JO years.


 This is how ho covered the distance:


 PROM KANO TO DAURA, LAKE CHAD AMD THE GULF OF ADEN BY FOOT



 TO PORT JIDDA, MEDINA 7ND MECCA BY CAMEL CARAVAN


 FROM' MECCA TO CAIRO, ALEXANDRIA AND BENGHAZI BY FOOT AND CARAVAN,


 Priest and trader still, Alhaddji Abu Bakara has boon a cloth merchant


in Benghazi for nearly JO years.

 One of his is in the the other, aged J2, is Imam
 sons Sudan; an




(religious instructor) and lives with his wife and child in Benghazi.




MILITARY AFFAIRS
 V2/M- -
 No, 10



 Air Ministry News Service Ministry Bulletin No. 12816


 R.A.F, FILM CMIEIiA'AN JINS P.F.C,


 film to be awarded the
 Z'ilot Officer J.E.F. Wright is the first 11.a.F. cameraman




Distinguished Flying Cross in this war.


 His citation states that he has taken in operational sorties and
 part numerous




has produced many outstanding film records. He has displayed exceptional
 always


enthusiasm and skill talcing part in fighter sorties by day, and performing experimental

 work night sorties. His and devotion to have been of high
camera on
 courage duty a




order and his skill has contributed the film record of the Sicilian and
 3 greatly to

Italian campaigns.
 out

 ./right, rho is aged 21, has both baled And been shipwrecked. His ship was




torpedoed by an He, 111 in the Mediterranean. It was badly damaged but successfully


beached, and there were-po casualties.


 The parachute descent occurred in October last during on attack on a road junction
 \ • ‘i

north of Isnraia, on the Italian central sector.


 "While on our bombing run”, said F/0 Wright, "we ran into heavy A.A. opposition,

and our starboard engine out of action. The wounded. After
 was put navigator was




the hit again the Both engines then
 run wc were in port engine’s petrol tanks. were




useless and the aircraft more or less out of control. We had to bale out and all


landed safely, including the wounded navigator, three or four miles inside our own




lines, where wc were picked up by the Canadian troops,”


 Wright’s home is at Ickenham, Middlesex. Before the War he was working as an




assistant cameraman at Technicolor Ltd., near Uxbridge,

 ?/0 Wright joined the H.A.F. in 1942, and softer a course of training was posted

to the R.A.F. Film Production Unit, He took his camera on bombing operations by

Venturas in daylight France and Morlaix airfield and
 over Belgium -


 Zeebrugge Harbour

 the targets and by coincidence his
 pictures which he first
were the took
 among -
 a on




operation (over Morlaix) were publicly shown in a news-reel issue which also included


pictures taken during a bombing operation over Italy by his father, Mr.E,J.H. 'Wright,

c. British Bar amount News cameraman.


 In June 1943, F/0 ./right went overseas to North Africa and from there to Malta,

 /here he started work with Boston and Baltimore bombers As
 operating over Sicily,


. on as airfields were available he crossed to Sicily and joined a U.S.A.A.F. Mitchelj


 but contined to work with the
'r
 ~,u.ac!ron, Bostons and Baltimores.
 -
 2 -




 At this time -the' latter -were co-operating with the..'Aniiy .advancing in Northern



Sicily, but the Baltinores and Kitchells were also -
 boobing., targets on the mainland


of Italy. P/0. Wright was flying with ’ them when, later, they co-operated with, the



Army at Salerno. ■ . ■


 He moved to the mainland with the Baltinores towards the end of September, 'and


was taking pictures over Naples at the tine of its fall. He has also had-a spell

with Coastal' Command at Gibraltar, operational flights the Atlantic
 going on over




in Catalinas.




Photograph available at B. I. P, P. A.
 4*2.44 -
 No* 11




 NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST IN OVERSEAS BULLETINS OR USE ON
 CLUB TAPES BEFORE 2J30 B. S.T. ON FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 4,(i.e. FOR
 SATURDAY MORNING PAPERS). NOT TO BE BROADCAST IN THE MIDNIGHT
 NEUS‘OF FEBRUARY 4/5-
 THIS EMBARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING
 ANY MESSAGES FILED UITH THE EMBARGO.




 THE BUFFS IN ITALY


 The Buffs have been fighting in Italy with the Eighth Army* They

landed in Termoli early in October, and were immediately engaged in very

severe fighting, heating back many enemy attacks and helping to establish

our positions on the line of Bifemo. Later in the month they were in

action along the coastal road advancing upon the Trigno. Their

formation repulsed a number of
 enemy counter-attacks in the petacciato
area during October and launched an attack across the Trigno, with naval
support, on November 3*

 The Buffs fought in Sicily on the central front. They were


confronted with stiff opposition in the hilly country south and south-east

of Etna, but the regiment had pressed forward to the Centuripe area by the


beginning of August.

 The regiment played a very prominent part throughout the North
African campaign, in'which they served with the First Array. They were


among the first troops who arrived, and the formation in which they

served -
 fighting beside French troops -
 beat back enemy attacks in the

Medjez-el-Bab area on February 26, taking 150 prisoners in the action.

On April 9 came the actions of Jebel Mahdi and Ohaouach, which cost the

enemy nearly 1,000 prisoners, as well as anti-tank and infantry guns, and

two days later this formation captured
 same more prisoners when they

 / advanced
 I I




 -2-


advanced to occupy the high ground west of the road running north and


south through G-oubellat.

 The regiment was also represented in the famous Army of the Nile, and



played a big part for many months in the operations in the Western Desert*


 The Buffs fought in Plunders in 1 940' over familiar ground. At


Oudenarde 20-21 they fought battlefield which Buffs had
 on
 May on a on




fought in 1708. at Armentieres, and Bailleul they met
 Later, Ypres


the same
 enemy they had faced there in 1915*
 J
 :




 ++++++++-H-++++++



MILITARY AFFAIRS
 l±/2/l&. -
 No. 12



 From. BASIL representing the Combined British press
 GINGELL,
 in Italy,
 With the Fifth Army, February 3
 When the made their counter-attack in the forefront
 Germans near Cistema, was a




German to of
 war correspondent complete with camera ready snap pictures the great success



his troops achieved. Each time itself for
 an opportunity presented a picture, an




officer
 restrained\him, bidding him wait, for there were better things to
 come, he said,

and there in The obedient with all his
 was no use wasting plates. correspondent, yet


professional feelings outraged, refrained from clicking the shutter. Then something


happened which neither he the
 nor the officer had foreseen. .American troops drove back


counter-attack, and in doing so the photographer, with over a hundred more troops, was




captured. To his captors he complained that he had been unable to take a single picture.


I saw him in the prisoners* stockade with the scores of other prisoners who now arrive



daily from this sector, and he was still annoyed. Fierce and bitter fighting has ranged


Cistema now for four days, and in one sector alone an officer told me he counted more than


 thirtyfive prisoners in mopping-up operations after
 One took a
200 German dead. platoon


counter-attack, watched in by lorries from the
 and I a hundred and fifty brought area.




 around the from pome to
The Germans* positions are dug out of the soft soil railway line

 and have in
Naples some areas been greatly affected by our shelling.


 evidenced by the
 That the supply position is causing the
 enemy some embarrassment is


story told into ditch with their It
 when two Gormans wore captured after crashing a car.



 and then bring them
was necessary for them to drive forty miles to get their rations, .
 avoid they tried to make
back along a road that was under fire. Thinking to shelling, a



 for
short cut, with the result that they found themselves challenged and, making a-dash
 and the
it, overturned their car into the ditch. One of the men was seriously injured,

other had a broken arm. The weather still holds good, and further reinforcements and

 arrived of the actions fought in this area
supplies have to this sector, One luckiest


 that of force had with them wireless
 body of troops around Cistema. This
was a
 a our



set which touch with his base. It known that fighting in
 on a sergeant was keeping was




 because defences had concentrated
the area where he was operating was very sticky, German


 the sets at the little headquarters in a
in area. The men, being over the wireless


ruined farm building along the road, strained their cars for news of this party ahead.

 from all round, but they
There came a message the sergeant, ’’the enemy is closing in



will have to dig us out I ’. Then there was silence. Still more German regiments arc




sending units to contain this sector,




 ++++-M-



MENISTRY OF INFORMATION
NOT to be published. 4.2.14. -
 N0.16

 JjJP.J? >m * •

 *SOUTH EAST AMA COMMUNIQUE NO. 32
B.S.T, ,
 "NowDelhi,
 February 4, 1944

 ARMY
 In the Hukawng Valley forces continued, to
 our ddvancc in allareas. To the



north and. west of Taihpa G-a, American-trained and. equipped Chinese troops were




engaged, the 3rd. February in eliminating small groups of of which
 on
 Japanese, some




had been surrounded.. No contact was made in the Taro area.



 In the Kabaw Valley on the 2nd February our forces occupied Ngapun, 20 miles


south south east of Tamu without opposition, and also several hill features two


miles further to the south south cast. Our troops, advancing south along the track



Kyauchaw-Dathwokyauk Auk, encountered some opposition about one mile south
 enemy


west of the latter place.

 West of the Mayu ridge, during the night 2nd/3rd February, there was patrol


activity and exchanges of fire.


 AIR


 R.A.F. dive-bombers of the Tactical Air Force, Eastern Air Command, on 3rd


February twice attacked enemy positions near Maungdaw. Nearly all their bombs were




concentrated in the target area. On the first attack the dive-bombers were escorted



by fighters.

 In the Kabaw the
 Valley, on Upper Chindwin on 2nd February and again on 3M


February, fighter-bombers attacked Japanese concentrations with bombs and machine-



gun fire. On 3pd February fighter-bombers also attacked an enemy camp south of


Fort White*

 the and far south single and twin-
 On Mayu Peninsula waterways as as
 Rangoon


engined fighters shot up rivercraft and motor transport. Among the sampans attacked


were five,which wore carrying troops. In all, four large and three small rivercraft


were destroyed and five more damaged,

 A large formation of U.S. fighter-bombers of the Tactical Air Force, Eastern Mr


Command, attacked the Okshitpin bridges across a branch of the Irrawaddy between

 and in Southern Burma on February 3rd. The Westernmost bridge was
promo Tawigup,
made unserviceable, and the eastern bridge damaged by heavy bombs. Ml Japanese


camps on the road between Promo and Taungup ’ wore heavily strafed,




 Firos wore started and motor transport destroyed.
 4.2.A4 -
 No, 18


Air Ministry News Service Air Ministry Bulletin No, 12843

 BAC'UG-HT D0~../N


 Three Do. 217 s and a Ju. 188 were destroyed in raids on this country during the



night, while fifth enemy aircraft shot down Canadian intruder
 a. was by a crew



 it going in to land at
as was an enemy airfield.


 Other intruder aircraft bombed and shot up eneny airfields in N, France.

 9



 One Dornier was shot down over this country by a Mosquito piloted by a flying

officer with a warrant officer observer. It brought the total of enemy aircraft



destroyed by the squadron, commanded by W/Ccir. John Cunningham, D*S,O,, D.F. C.,


to at least 2C2, with more severely damaged,
 many


 lifter a short chase, their cannon gun a.ttack blew up the raider which crashed


into the sea in flames.


 Another raider, believed to be a Ju. 188, was blown to pieces by a Mosquito-


flown by a 35~year-old Czech flying officer with a Czech observer. The flying


 former Czech airline pilot, fought in France with a French squadron,
officer, a




cane to England when France fell and flew a Hurricane in the Battle of Britain


in the first Czech in
 fighter squadron formed this country.


 "The Ju.lBB was a sitting bird, he said. "The Hun didn’t know what hit him



I am sure. It caught fire and broke
 up in many pieces."

 A Dutchman, in Nev/ Zealand Mosquito
 a flight sergeant a squadron scored his



first success when he and his sergeant observer shot down a Dornier 217 as it was




coming in, sending it - and its bombs -
 spinning down in flames into the sea.



 To make sure of its destruction the Mosquito followed the Dornier down as




it dived hitting it repeatedly with cannon shells.


 +H—I—I—H—I —I—I—{•+++ + +
 Mpa 19




 Hr Ministry No. 12845



 MINISTRY .IND MINISTRY OF HOME SEOURITY caiMUNIQUE




 Early last night and in the early hours of this morning there


.was some enemy activity mainly over South East England, including


the London and over parts of East .oiglia. Bombs were dropped
 area,


at a number of points. Seme damage was done and the casualties


include a small number of people killed*


 It is already known that four enemy aircraft were destroyed.
 Nc.2O.


 •
 Ministry Bulletin No, 12844


 xxIB IiT.NISTi.iI GCWUNIOUE


 Last night Mosquitos of Bomber Command attacked objectives in Western



 Mines also laid in
Germany. were enemy waters.


 Intruders cn patrol over Northern Erance destroyed an enemy aircraft.


 Nene of cur aircraft is missing.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE THS LONDON GAZETTE frr2.44 - No. 22




 THS BRITISH EMPIRE MEDIC (MILITARY DIVISION)

90J171 GUNNER DAVID GEORGE SEACCMBE MOORE, Royal Regiment of

Place of birth: Four Oakes, Birmingham. Acltress of next of kin: Eastbourne.


 On a night in August, 1943, a bomber crash-landed near POLEGATE, caught fire and



burned out to a total wreck. Two police officers, the first to arrive on the scene




were followed in a matter of seconds by Gunner Moore. The three together forced an




entry into the rear gunner’s turret and satisfied themselves that nobody was trapped in



the fuselage. They then made every possible effort to locate the crew in the blazing

aircraft but were handicapped by the terrific heat and continuous explosions of the

ammunition and and also tree trunk which had been knocked down and carried
 flares, by a




fiorward by the machine and had fallen on to the fuselage and caught fire. Gunner Moore



found a member of the crew lying in the field in front of the machine. The injured man




 picked and and to As this the only
was up placed in a car conveyed hospital. was



member of the to be found to this it assumed that others still in
 crew
 up time, was were




the blazing aircraft, but in spite of an extensive search they could not be found.


(Two injured men had escaped from the wreckage, three had baled out over the Channel,

and next morning four bodies were recovered from under the wreckage in the forward part
 •
 »




of the aircraft, upon which the tree had been brought down.) ' As the fire was spreading

towards the tail of the aircraft Gunner Moore and the the
 police officers emptied


magazine in the rear gunner’s turret.


 During the whole time Gunner Moore showed great courage in assisting the police

and thought for his
 gave no own personal safety.
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++



SERGEANT ALFRED DAVIES, 15th Glamorganshire (Gower) Bn., Home Guard.

Place of birth: Three Crosses,Glep. Address of next of kin: Llangennith, Glam.


 and j


PRIVATE GEORGE ERNEST REES, 15th Glamorganshire (Gower) Bn., Home Guard

Place of birth: Three Crosses, Glam. Address of next of kin: Llangennith, Glam.


 On 11th December, 1942, a report was received to the effect that Royal Air Force


personnel were in danger off BURRY HOLMES, Sergeant Davies instructed Private Rees to



accompany him and they went to the point indicated where they saw five'men clinging to the


rocks in the sea some distance from the mainland. These men had been for three days
 /



in a rubber dinghy without food and were
 totally exhausted. In extremely dangeroi. •

 at tide in Rees
conditions, high Spring and a raging storm, Sergt. Davies and Pte.

plunged into the to render assistance. reached the five men, renders-
 open sea They

first-aid to them and remained with them for two hours until the tide had receded s °fi-


ciently for them to be helped to the mainland. But for such assistance all five men



would unquestionably have lost their lives in inrrinent
 as they were danger of being, washed

 in the storm. The actions of Davies and Pte. for the
away Sergt. Rees called .greatest

bravery and determination and resulted in the of the lives of the five Royal
 saving
A_ir Force personnel. MILITARY AFFAIRS
 4.2. M+- -
 No. 24


 LANDING IN IT.IY
 Jith Fifth jiriy in I tai r

 *.




 February 1944


 Dress
 By Basil Ginpell, Representing the Combined British

 the voices
 Through this encampment the patrol stole cautiously hearing


of the enfay talking in that curious hushed tone that one automatically


adopts by night near the front. The patrol continued noting dispositions

and those ‘facts and figures essential to such reconnaisance, then by a




circuitous route they returned to their base. Just a routine patrol,

but like every one of these nightly sallies fraught with peril at every

turn and calling not only for courage but Cor., alertness coolness a co


of skill.

/while our own patrols are engaged upon this work the enemy is attempting

similar Incursions. There is a tenseness through the hours of darkness


 the listen for the telltale crackle of broken
as men a
 twig that nay

give the It is tenseness that none can help but feel
 enemy away. a




 though all around is seemingly still. With daylight,much of this


feeling disappears, when the guns thunder again and along the dusty


roads the wheels start turning.
 +++++++++++++++




MINISTRY OF, INFORMATION
 *

 ■i' • ~, ■ **,, u. i. ( •'
 ‘ • ''
 ■




 A, 2,44 IT -> 2g>,




 MIDDLE EtxST AIR CaiMWIQUE

 litC't }
 .....J',


 4*2,44




 Continuing their attacks on enemy shipping in

the Aegean Sea area, fighter and bomber aircraft


have scored further successes.




 During the night f February 1. Sunt a bay was bumbed,


bursts being seen in the harbi ur area. On the following


night, medium bembers attacked a large merchant vessel


n<rth of Patm >s, It was left burning fiercely. Some



hcurs later, fighters found the vessel still on fire.


Another formation of fighters attacked and loft in a




wrecked c<nditicn f<ur sailing ships near Paros Island,


 Yesterday, our Spitfires shot d-.wn a Ju,BB north


cf
 Cyprus.


 Pr. these and other operations three cf cur aircraft


are missing,


 *
 4“ ■ —i —4 4“ 4—r 4” 4* 4'4" 4*
 A, 2, kA. - No, 26

 IQIDITERfUNEAN. CQ-HOTIQIIE NO, 14*


 Allied Force Advance
 ic dit
 He adquart er s,l err an n


 February Ath, 1944


 AIC'Y:


 On the main sth Army front our troops are engaged in heavy fighting on the



outskirts of Cassino. Enemy counter-attacks launched, in the mountains north


 all the Anzio front
of Cassino were repulsed. sth Army troops on are improving

their positions, On the Bth Army front our troops occupied the village of

Torricclla.


 AIR:


 but bombers and lighter
 Again yesterday weather limited operations, our




aircraft bombed rail facilities at Sulnona, Manoppello end Stinigliano. Between



SuQmona and Rome, motor and rail traffic was attacked by fighters and fighter-


bombers, Patrols were maintained, over the battle areas, Five enemy aircraft


were destroyed.. Two of ours are missing,

 NAVY:


 The bombardment of the coastal area in the vicinity of Formia has been



continued, by vessels of the French and Netherlands and has been particularly

successful to the North and. North-east of Formia,


 4-4-4-4-4--M —F 4-4" 4* 4-4-4-4* 4-
 4.2,44 -
 No >2B




 NCT NOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST IN OVERSEAS BULLETINS OR USE ON
 CLUB T'BES BEFORE 233 Q B. S.T. ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1944. (i.e.
 FOR SATURDAY MORNING PAPERS). NOT TO BE BROADCAST IN THE

 MIDNIGHT NEUS OF FEBRUARY K/5
 THIS EMBARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING
 ANY MESSAGES FILED 'WITH THE EMBARGO.




 CHOCOLATE /TO, SWEETS. RATION




 There will "be no change in the amount of the ration or in the



value of personal points coupons for ration period No>B which Begins

on Sunday, February 5.


 The amount of the ration for the 4-week period remains at 1 2 cbs.




The points value of chocolate and.sweets remains at 1 6 personal points per lb.


except that sweets with the maximum price of Is,4d. lb*, when sold
 per


at not more than Bd. per lb., and all other sweets and chocolates when


sold at not than Is,Od. value of 8
 more per lb. have a'points personal


points per lb.

 The coupons valid for ration period No.B are the ”D” and ”E” coupons



numbered ”8” on
 page 29 of the ration book. This page may be detached


from the book and used by itself, provided that the name and the National


Registration number of the holder have been inserted. The value of



the coupons remain at:-

 ”D” coupons. 1 point each

 ”E” coupons. 2 points each

 +4-++-W-+4-+-++4-++-M-++++++

MINISTRY 'OF FOOD
 4«.2 < -
 Np. 29




 NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BRQADCA T IN OVERSEAS BULLETINS OR USE ON

 CLUB TAPES BEFORE 2350 D.S.T. ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1.944
 (i.c. FOR SATURDAY MORNING PAPERS}
 NOT TO DE BROADCAST IN THE MIDNIGHT NED'S OF FEBRUARY 4/5, 19U.
 TIES EMBARGO SHOULD DE RESPECTED OVERSEAS DY PREFACING ANY

 MESSAGES FIHF D'ITH THD E FARGO




 EXTP; ALLOCATION OF DRIED EGGS


 The Ministry of Food announces that a double dried eggs allocation


will be available during the four-wcck period February 6 to March R, as




it the" four-week period from January 9 to February 5.
 was during


 During this period every holder of R.D.I or R.D.4 con obtain two


 and four
packets every holder of R.D.2 packets.



 «■>«*■
 M. ■! M.OT* w.




MINISTRY OF FOOD
 -
 Not, 32



Air i.iinistry News Service Air Ministry Bulletin No, 1284&



 WOUNDED POLISH GUNW< FIGHTS ON



 Wounded in the face and hands by perspex splinters during a noon-




light combat over the 'Jay of Biscay last night with an aircraft,
 enemy


the rear-gunner of a Coastal Command Polish Wellington continued firing

until the disappeared. Only the way back to base did he tell
 eneny on




his captain that he had been wounded.


 The three the The
 enemy made attacks on Wellington. fight lasted


five minutes and red sparks were seen from the eneny’s direction before

it was broken off.


 The rear-gunner, a Flying Officer, who was a railway official in

Poland before escaping to join the R.^.F., was. wounded in the first


attack.


 "I was too busy firing to think about ny wounds," he said. "The



enemy came in very fast, and his attacks ranged fron 180 to AGO yards."




 /
 4.2.44 - No, 33




 , NOT’FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST IN OVERSEAS BULLETINS CL USE ON

 CLUB TABES BEFORE 2330- B.S.T. ON F .IDaY, FEBRUARY 4, 1944 (i.c. i’’Oß
 ' SaTUkDaY HORNING PARERS).
 NOT TO BE BkOaDG.;ST IN THE HIDNIGHT NEWS OF FEBRUARY 4/5, 1944
 THIS EMBARGO SHOUP J BE' RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY IRERACING ANY MESSAGES
 ' FILED WITH THE SDARGO.




 COaL OUTPUT aND DISTRICT FETCH LTCES


 4 ..EELS ENDED 22nd JANUARY, 19U


COAL OUTPUT


 The out put of saleable cool in the four weeks ended 22nd January, 1944,


averaged 3,495,500 tons per week compared with 3,662,600 tons per week in the



previous four weeks (ended 25th December). Owing to the inclusion of both


the Boxing Day and New Year holidays in the period under review, the output


is not comparable with' that for the corresponding period a year ago when the



New Year holiday only was included.


 of
 Transport difficulties again involved a loss coal production which


amounted, on the to 31,500 tons per week. Disputes accounted for
 average,


■an overage loss of 14,200 tons per week.


 The production statistics of average weekly output of saleable coal


for the twelve with corresponding figures for the previous
 past months,

 are given in the Table below
year,




 (Cont’d)
(No. 33, t/2/U) - 2 -




 C or r e sp ending
 T73LE 1943-4 ' period a
 year ago



4 weeks ended 20th February, 1943 4,016,400 tons (4*028,000)
4 weeds ended 20th March, 1943 4,013,700
 "
 (4,074,600;
4 weeks, ended 17th 1943 4,005,200
 ”
 (3,739,800) x



4 wek-s-cnded Isthl.iay, 1943 3,624,600
 ”
 x (4,103,900)
4 weeks ended 12th June, 1943 3,936,600
 ”
 x (3,724,800) x



4 weeks ended 10th July, 1943 3,579,700
 "
 x (3,987,200)
4 weeks ended 7th August, 1943 3,097,800
 "
 x (3,339,300) x



4 weeks-ended 4th ’September,l943 3,767,800
 "
 (3,978,900)
4 weeks ended 2nd October, 1943 3,819,400
 "
 (4,076,100)
4 weeks ended 30th October, 1943 3,908,000
 ”
 (4,124,500)
4 weeks ended 27th November, 1943 3,815,100 "
 (4,126,600)
4 weeks ended 25th December, 1943 3,662,600 "
 x (3,880,100) x



4 ’weeks ended 22nd January, 1944 "



 3,495,500
 ”
 x (3,813,400) x



 x Holidays
 The production from opencast workings has not been included in the above figures.


In. the four weeks ended 22nd January, this production averaged-76,800 tons per week.


During the previous four
 weeks, an average of 86,600 tons per-week was-produced.


Output bonus odd district percent,ges



 The certified district.percentages of standard tonnage are as follows;-


Northumberland 94.5% ■ South Staffordshire &
 Worcestershire 89.
Cumberland 83.3;.
 Shropshire 96.2$
Durham 89.#
South Yorkshire . 89.9)-) Warwickshire ■ 93.7)6
West Yorkshire 87.2)6 South Wales & Monmouthshire- . 85.9)6
North Derbyshire 94.2% Forest of Dean 87.9%
Nottinghamshire .• 94.8% “Bristol 93.0%
South
 Derbyshire , 98,9)) ■ ■ Somerset /
Leicestershire 106.9/) Fife & Clackmannan 90,8))
Lancashire & Cheshire 92.5)) Lothians 92.0%
North Wales 88.3% Lanarkshire 88,1%
North Staffordshire 92,0)) Ayrshire /
Cannock Chase . 91.2% Kent /

 A bonus of l/6d per shift is, therefore, payable in the Leicestershire district.


 P The standard of this district is under review the Local
 tonnage by Reviewing
 Authority in accordance with 2 of the rules the
 paragraph governing operation
 of the Scheme,


 / Not yet available,




MINISTRY OF FUEL AND POWER
 4/2/U -
 No, 34



 LANDING- IN ITALY


 BY VAUGHAN THOMAS REPRESENTING THE GOWNED



 BRITISH PRESS AND RADIO


 With the Fifth Army

 February 3

 The day has passed in a consolidation of our positions after the heavy


fighting of the last few days. The Germans are harassing our forward troops

with heavy gunfire. At night the enemy is carrying cut his usual policy of



active patrolling. These patrols can be exciting affairs. In the dark rival



patrols can pass within a few feet of each other. One seageant heard a rustle



alongside him. and thinking it of out his hand, he said, to
 was one our
 men, put

 contact. amazed to find the
keep He was man wearing a
 great coat. All his


 without he realised the German and shot him.
men were them, so man was a




without the rest of the enemy patrol suspecting his pretence.

 The weather is his strength for
 overcast. The enemy is still building up



a possible counter attack and is prepared to make a bitter fight of it.




MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
 4.2,U -
 No. 35



 LOAD S.ONTOM TO VISIT SOUTH AFAICA


 Lord Swinton, Resident Minister in fest Africa., will shortly be



paying a. brief visit to the Union of South Africa a.t the invitation of


General Slants,




COLONIAL OPPICH
 disintch skoul s zljcide tk: child iclceited
 this.
 No, 57
04.2.
 K. .LIIL
 3.45 -4-■» No. JL. 13.113 /.T 2>+.
 U -

 LENDING IN ITALY


 By BASIL GINGELL, Representing the Combined British ress




 ,/ith the Fifth Amy in Italy
 February 4


 Though darkness stills much of the/ activity upon the Arizio sector of the Italian



 battlefront, night no less than clay has its movement. If the hurrying of vehicles



 over the roads that intersect the plain is reduce..', and the myriad noises of an
 army


 consolidating and preparing for further efforts slackens, in the comparative stillness



 of the night more stealthy and sinister movements are afoot.



 Through brushwood and ditches and patrols rush out foot
 across muddy fields, on




 under guided by the stars. Nov/ and flash illuminates the
 a waning moon again a gun



 scene for a brief period leaving it afterwards darker than or perhaps one sees
 ever,


 shimmering in the distance some phantom will-o-the-wisp light whose origin one can




 only guess.

 In such eerie surroundings patrols leave their camps where men sit around fires



 smoking, yarning or re-reading letters from home. I net one such patrol returning

 from sortie in which they had the had
 a
 penetrated deeply behind enemy lines. They


 struck out across the fields towards a certain road but finally, the enemy barring

 their way, they skirted the road and wood. There it was necessary to exercise all



 their knowledge of woodcraft and all their for of
 resources, they came upon a
 group


 German tanks hidden under the trees and an encampment of their crews.




 iiINISTRY OF LFOLIIATION
 4» 2»44 ~

 , No
 *
 4-2


 HEADQUARTERS

 EUROPEAN THEATER QE OPERATIONS


 UNITED STATES ARMY



OOIEIJNIQUE 170


 It is announced by Headquarters,European Theater of United States


Army, and the Air Ministry (A. M. No ,1 2852) that the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in



Europe in their sixth major operation in seven days attacked Frankfurt, inportant

industrial and communications centre, and other targets in western G-ermany today.


 Strong forces of Liberators and Fortresses were escorted by Thunderbolt,


Lightning, and Mustang long range fighters and supported by R. A. E. ,Dominion, and



Allied Spitfires and Typhoons.

 Only weak fighter opposition was encountered, the bombers destroying
 enemy]


four and the fighters shooting down eight enemy aircraft.

 From these operations, 21 bombers and one fighter are missing.

 ++++++++++++++++
On no account for publication in 4/2/2}# -
 No* 43
British Evening Newspapers
Not for broadcast in the B, B. C. Home

Service before 0030 B. S.T. Feb.sth, 19W

 LANDING IN ITALY




 .
 Anzio Bridgehead, Friday mo~wing

 By Norman Clark, Representing the Combined British Press


 The enemy is now making a determined shew of strength on this bridgehead

front of the Fifth Army. His troop movements into the area have increased; in


the Cistema sector the German forces grouped there are probably doubled. The


battle for the town began on Monday. All along the line the initiative remains

with us -
 as it has done since we gained the advantage of surprise by landing on



the beaches here a fortnight ago. We rather, than the enemy are maintaining

pressure as if the High Command was not delivering a heavy blow at us.



 In this area, -where our line encroaches almost to the outskirts of the town,

the to
 enemy infantry are digging in along the line of the railway tracks the west


and in banks and stream-beds to the south and south-east.




MINISTRY OF INFORMATION