13/5.1944 1.= pm. Wardell
Heavy fighting is going on in Italy along a 30 miles
front, against which our troops launched their
offensive. Our troops crossed the Rapido and
Carigliano rivers and fought their way up hill
to the main German defense line.
Our bombers were again out last night
attacking railway targets in Belgium, France
and North West Germany. Renewed German
attacks against Russian positions on the lower
Dnjestr have been thrown back.
The attacks by the 5th and 8th Armies in Italy is
directed against the Gustav line stretching
from the Gulf of Gaeta inland.
In the first 12 hours of the offensive our troops
crossed the Rapido river over a front of 8 miles
and they are now massing equipment to
proceed with their attack. Above Cassino,
which itself is quiet, our troops are meeting
stiff opposition. More to the coast we have
crossed the Carigliano. The German re-acted
fiercely to our offensive. Prisoners were
taken and against the expectations our
casualties were light. A British cruiser
supported by USA destroyers has assisted from
the sea in an area which had earlier been swiped
by British minesweepers. Our aircraft were
very active and 2750 sorties were flown with
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