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5 MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1948 "THE DAILY TIMES-GAZETTE PAGE NIN, Ontario Regiment History CHAPTER XVI ,. «The next day, 15 Dec. was the ird fine day in succession." Ber- ard: was quiet in the morning, the "Germans having apparently drawn back, but, abous noon, they return- ed to the "area. Shelling intensified, nad at 1500 hrs, 200 paratroopers counter . attacked, supported by tanks. The attack lasted about 45 minutes, C Sqn. knocked out one Mk IV Special, The Royal 22nd Regiment was forced to withdraw its positions about 300 yds. Finally, the attack was crippled by .fire | from 98 Fd Regt. Firing on direc- tions given by Major Smith to Major Peile at RHQ, they put 1400 rounds of 105 dead on the counter- | attacking force within 15 minutes. (|| At 1545, the force withdrew, badly i mauled. 2 Seven tanks under Capt. N. B. J Baylay were warned to support the Carleton and York Regiment in an attack oh the main crossroad. But, while the Germans held Berardi, no | attack could hope to succeed, so i nothing materialized. . ] C Sqn. was still cut off at Ber- 4 ardi, it was impossible to get nor- | | mal supply vehicles through, and : there was no hope that mules could | bring supplies in sufficient quanti- ties. After two days of fierce | fighting, the sqn. was very low on ammunition. At 2000 hrs., Capt. ©. I. Knowles arrived at RHQ to dis- cuss plans for getting supplies in to C sqn. It was decided to move his tanks up under cover of dark- ness, leaving out each co-driver, and filling the tanks with ammuni- tion. In addition, one tank whieh had a defective wireless set was completely stripped, loaded with supplies, and sent with only a driver and crew commander. The seven B sqn. tanks under Capt. Baylay took over the V. Licini posi- tion. Thus C Sqn. would be both ' replenished and reinforced. During the day, A and B sqns. remained where they were, still : under fire, but otherwise quiet. At midnight 15/16 Dec., Capt. Knowles with seven tanks, includ- ing the one stripped down, left V. Licini for C sqn's Berardi position. | He arrived safely at 0400 hours, and | © sqn. was now supplied with ammo and reinforced by 6 fresh tanks. It was now possible to undertake offensive action, and Capt. Knowles operated all day in the area of the | bridge at 320137, This was still in- ! tact, and the tanks concentrated on trying to prevent the Germans from blowing it. They shot up numbers of enemy moving in the valley near the bridge and successfully engaged | German MT in the area. Despite | the threat to their flanks and rear, the Germans remained in Berardi. A sqn, 44 RTR (Major Whitaker) | came under command of the regi- | ment, and moved into the San | Leonardo harbour. In the evening, | they took over flank protection and {moved as far as the cross-roads { west of the Villa Licini, but were unable to follow Lager track to the lateral, as the route was covered by anti-tank guns firing from the j area. east of Caldari Station. They lost one tank to these guns. ! A sqn less 2 troops returned from i he coast road, and B sqn, less 2 itoops from the area east. of Ber- ardi. They moved. back into the S. Leonardo harbour, and commen- iced refitting immediately. 17 Dec. was another clear, cool day. At Berardi, Capt. Knowles continued operating in the area of the bridge, and shot up some enemy infantry. In the afternoon, he was wounded by a sniper and evacuated. Shelling in the Berardj area caused some casualties, One tank struck a mine and lost a track. Attempted recovery proved fruitless, and one man was killed by a sniper as he tried to unfasten the towing cables. B Sqn sent 4 tanks under Capt. Stafford to clear out snipers along {the Tollo road. The task was com- |pleted successfully, but Capt. Staf- {ford was wounded and evacuated. {Major Whitaker, O.C. A .syn. 44 IRTR was killed by a shell during the afternoon. On 18 Dec. the skies began to cloud up. C sqn. remained in the Berardi area. 12 CAR passed through, supporting 2 CIB. in an attack toward the main cross- roads and northeast to Ortona. The ecress-roads "vas taken, and some ground northeast of it was consolidated against fierce and stubborn resistance, The rest of the regimen' re- mained at rest in the S. Leonardo harbour, but experienced some heavy shelling, The entrance to 8. Leonardo was still on the enemy D. F. list, and received frequent attention from their guns. On 14 Dec. the 2 C. I. B. attack approached Ortona. C Sqn's task was now complete, and they return- ed to S. Leonardo. The whole regi- ment was now concentrated here, engaged in rest and maintenance. They remained until 23 Dec. On 20 Dec., Lt.Col. Angle of the BCDs arrived with his I. O. and recce officer to observe and discuss the regiment's experience in action. During this period, 2 C. I. B. group, with 12 CAR, was fighting its way House by house through the streets of Ortona. An O Group was held at 1800 hours, 22 Dec. The street fighting in Ortona was slow and costly, and an attempt was now to be made to outflank and cut off the town from the west and northwest. The'coun- try to the west and northwest of Ortona was even closer than the ground the regiment had fought over south of the town. It was bounded on the west by a small stream, deeply sunk into the ound, and emptying into the J J; atic at Torre Mucchia, better known from a symbol on the map as "Trig Pt. 59." On the east was the coast north of Ortona. As the coast ran northeast and the stream due north, the area came to a point at Trig Pt. 59. The coast road fol- lowed the line of the Adriatic shore on the high ground just back of it, About 2 miles northwest of Or- tona, a good gravel road branched iwest running straight to the small tream previously described, which it crossed by a ford, and ran thence ot Tollo. A few small dirt tracks ran through the area, by means of hich it was possible to get from ie S. Leonardo-Tollo road to the roid serving Tollo across the ford, at 'a point midway between the coast road and the ford. Vineyards covered most of the REEL agle. PAR | ground. These vineyards were ob- 'stacles to tanks as the grape vines | wer trained on wires which were "supported by light concrete posts. : The tangle of wires madefmove- | ment very slow, and thery was a constant possibility of having the suspension fouled by wires. The vineyards also offered excellent cvoer for enemy infantry. The ground had been cultivated for centuries, and the frequent rains reduced it to a morass, where a tank could not move. Another tank regiment had already refused to go through this area on the grounds that it was impassable, The plan was as follows: On 23 Dec, HPER was to - attack the track junction at 311140. A sqn. in support to proceed to this objective when sappers cleared the track from the S. Leonardo Tollo road. Upon arrival, a few tanks would be sent north toward ring contour 100, 3016, to test the ground. In the second phase, the 48th Highlanders was in support 11 CAR less A sqn. would pass through and seize ring contour 100. In the third phase, the RCR to pass through the 48th Highlanders, picking up 11 CAR on the way and cut the coast road. One section of sappers was ate tached to each squadron for the operation, The operation started on 23 Dec. ag planned: At 1000 hours, HPER had reached first objective and A sgn. moved up. Lt. A. W. Hawkins took his tank out to test the ground north of the objective, and at 1100 hours, while trying to cross a gully not shown on the map, he struck a mine. As the gully was covered by machine-gun fire, a path could not be swept across it in daylight. At noon, the rest of the regiment moved up to an area southwest of the lateral, about 1000 yards south- west of Berardi, At 1500 hours, as no path for tanks could be found across the gully, the 48th Highlanders passed through without tanks, and reach- ed hteir objective, ring contour 100, under cover of darkness. Attempts to sweep the gully dur- ing the night 23/24 Dec. owing to enemy patrols and shell- ing. The HPER area was infil- trated by paratroops during the night, and considerable sniping went on. The 48th Highlanders could not be reached in daylight. They had bypassed numbers of en- emy in the darkness, and these re- mained in houses behind the bat- talion. Attempts to move tanks into position failed. As it appeared impossible to move on, and as the position of both battalions was ren- dered precarious because their right flanks were in the air, the ROR moved in on the right flank of the HPER. Christmas Day was cloudy, cool, and damp, and marked by some very successful fighting. At 1300 hours, two troops of A sqn. under Capt. N. B. Baylay reached the 48th Highlanders. They were doubly welcome, as they brought the bat- talion"s Christmas dinner with them. A combined attack was begun immediately on buildings in the area which sheltered enemy Span- had no anti-tank defenses in this area, having believed that it was impossible to use tanks In such country, the mopping up was a huge success. Numerous paratroop- ers were killed, and approximately 30, including an officer, taken prisoner. At the same time, another troop of A Sqn under Lt. W, D. Shirriff moved off to join the RCR. Move- ment was possible only along a single track, and when the second tank bogged, blocking the track, Lt. Shirriff had to go on alone in his tank, He reached the RCR and supported their mopping up opera- tions, shooting up several defend- 'ed buildings. On 26 Dec., A Sqn. moved up to the 48th Highlander"s area com- plete. Two troops of B- Sgn. con- tinued, mopping up the HPER area, and e enemy suffered. further casualties, Christmas trees and propaganda messages from the en- emy were found in some of the houses. In the evening, Capt. W. J. E. Simmons went as liaison officer to the Royal West Kends of 8 Ind. Div., on the left flank, The RWKs planned an attack on 27 Dec. to seize the high ground 1000 yds. south of Villa San Nicola, and A Sqn. was detailed to support them by fire, from the east bank of the gully. In the evening, the B Sgn. troops with the HPER were re- leased, and A Sgn. sent one troop back to the regimental area. The RWK attack went in on 27 Dec, A Sqn. moved to the east bank of the gully to support them, and could fnid no targets at first, but were greeted by enemy shellfire, At 1100 hrs, Lt. Hawkins demolished the church tower south of Villa S. Ni- cola, which was being used by the enemy as an OP, At 1300 hrs. A Sqn. and one coy of the 48th Highlanders moved up to the ford on the lateral to Tollo. They reached it without opposi- tion, and during the evening, con- tact was lost all along the divisional front. The Carleton and Yorks, sup- ported by B Sqn., set off for the Tollo lateral at 0800 hrs. 28 Dec. They met no opposition, and cut HILLIPS MILK OF MAGNESIA TABLETS aft failed, | daus and snipers. As the Germans |- Education For Living Together "Education for Living Together" has been chosen as the theme of the 88th annual convention of the Ontario Education Association which opens here today. The same theme is being taught 'even in kindergartens throughout the school yssteh. Sharon Miller (right), recent arrival from Poland, shows Vernon Wu, Toronto, and Harriet Belzberg the route she travelled with her family in their search for a free country. Harriet arrived here two months ago from Palestine. the lateral about half way between the coast road and the ford. They then turned east, and reached the coast road- without contact. There they made contact with 12 CAR and 2 CIB, who were through Or- | tona and moving up the coast road. When they moved north toward trig point 59, however, they were met by machine gun and mortar | fire, and encountered numerous | mines, The enemy was holding the | line of the stream north of the fea- ture, and retained the hill because it was a fine natural defensive | positién with good observation to- | ward Ortona. He kept his reserves | ll in the northern end of the railway | tunnel which ran under the hill | Two tanks lost tracks on mines, | and a third bellied on a mine in the | 1t he its escape | other countries is generally sup- posed soft ground and had hatch blown in, killing the co- ford on the Tollo road. A Sqn. moved back to their old positions. RHQQ moved to a farmhouse south of the Tollo lateral. The following day, two of the B Sqn. tanks around Trig Pt 5 became bogged, making a total by an HE shell. Popular Melody Not Maori Song Auckland, N.Z. -- (CP) -- Al- though the popular song "Now: is the Hour" now sweeping North America as it has done in many to be a. Maori folk-song, it driver. A fourth detonated a mine | is that by adoption only. well in front of our Infantry, and had to be abandoned. C Sqn. and the Royal 22nd moved up, taking over from A Sqn. at the Its origims is disputed but it is generally thought to have been written in Australia about 35 years ago by a Clement Scott under the NAY And QOLOR NOW BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME WITH FAMOUS rR WAM/CS Yes, world-famous Pittsburgh Paints are now available in Canada! That means you can now give your home the [finest paint protectiog that money can buy. Pittsburgh Paints are made with 'Vitolized Oils' to give lasting beauty and protection. Pittsburgh Paints are fougher than ordinary paints . : ; can take more punishment! And ask your dealer about COLOR DYNAMICS . : : the famous Pittsburgh paint science that utilizes the Energy in Color . . . works wonders in making your home brighter, more liveable! There's a Pittsburgh Paint for every purpose inside and outside your home. 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Bereaved Mother Of War Veteran Will Get $4,000 Ottawa, March 29--(CP)--Parlia- ment, in the hustle and bustle of adjourning for the Easter recess, found a legal way to pay off a moral obligation, Passing $260,000,000 worth of sup- plementary estimates and interim supply, the Commons gave approv- al to a tiny $1 vote to Mrs. Joan Snow of Winnipeg and thus opened the way to the government to meet an obligation to the war widow. Behind the vote was this story: In 1945, Sgt. Frank R. Snow ap- plied for $4,000 of veterans' insur- ance through the Veterans Depart- ment and paid the premium. How- ever, before the forms could get to Ottawa through the slow-moving channels of the newly-formed in- surance system Snow died and the insurance, since it had not been approved, could not legally be paid. Since then the department has sought legal means of paying the insurance. Passage of the $1 item by parliament recognizes the moral obligation and authorizes the de- partment to make the $4,000 pay- ment, Says Clergymen Need $40 Weekly For Proper Living Toronto, Mar. 29--(CP)-- Rev. J. Dunkin of Wartley Road Baptist Church, London, Ont., declared at a meeting here of the Independent Baptist Fellowship no clergyman could live on less than $40 a week and maintain hismelf as he should. i He charged that pastors were often "starved out" of churches. When a good pastor is called, the congregation fails to pay him a liv- ing wage. The result is that he ac- | cepts the first call that comes and leaves, Mr. Dunkin also criticized con- gregations that wait until their | pastors have received calls before considering increased stipends. Rev. Leander Roblin, pastor of Christie Street Church, Toronto, was re-elected Moderator at the final session of the two-day meet- ing. | Other officers: Vice-Moderator, Swiss Military Training Does Not Disturb Study By DEWITT MACKENZIE Associated Press News Analyst This vexing question of whether the United States should, or should not, inaugurate universal military training is bringing me many in. quiries from people who are in doubt but are trying to figure the thing out honestly and unselfishly. The chief positive thought I have in the matter is that, if Congress should decide such training to be essential for defence, it is to be hoped it can be arranged so not to interfere with educations or careers. Switerland, for instance, claims to have found a perfect solution. Their system runs something like this: Physical training of boys, to fit them for military instruction, be- gins in high school. But physical perfection is only one aim of this preparatory work, for the youths are trained in civic duty and are in. spired with a vast pride in their fitness to undertake the military training. The training is divided into four periods of three months each and is carried out in the summer. Th's means that the school work isnt interrupted. If a boy goes to work as soon as he finished high school, his em- ployer under the law has to re. lease him for the four three-montn periods. The employer alsc con. tinues the salary during these per- iods and grants the regular yeariv vacation as well. Also--and this is important -- the employer must maintain the employee's seniority despite these absences. 'The result of this program is that every able-bodied man in Switzer- land has had military training, ani patriotism runs high, Whether ic would he equally successful in other countries is of course a matter of speculation. I cite it merely as an interesting example of one way of handling compulsory military train. ing, where such training is vital. In any event, the moral of our story is that it must be the aim of any prcgram of military train. ing to keep it from being disrup- tive of the normal way of life so far as possible. Dr. Dunkin; Secretary-Treasurer, | Dr. O. 8. Clappison, Toronto, As- sociate Pastor of Eglinton Baptist Tabernacle, Executive Council members in- | clude Rev. James Boyd, Guelph; Rev. John Boehmer, Woodstock; Rev. Donald Loveday, Brantford; Rev, Norman Pipe, Simcoe; Rev. T. LL. White, Niagara Falls. Bogus U.S. Bills Traced To Orient Shanghai, March 29--(CP) -- A thriving business in counterfeit United States money is, being done in Shanghai. y An American banker said the city | ranks second to Germany as the | world's largest market in bogus | currency, A black market deals in it. Those unable to get rid of count- | erfeit banknotes otherwise can | trade them for legal currency. They take only a 50-per-cent loss. Secret Service agents have invest- igated the counterfeit market in China for two years. But theyre still stumped as to the source of the money. (In San Francisco, a Secret Serv- ice source said yesterday thousands of dollars in near-perfect counter- feit bills--$20s, $50s and $1(9s--had turned up there recently. Counter- feiting rings in the Orient were blamed.) Shanghai financiers said the best guess is that much of the counter- feit money came from Germany-- particularly the nearly perfect notes which are difficult to detect. They said that the Nazis were reported to have taken expert forgers, engravers, artists and papermakers from concentration camps and set them to work on United States and British currency. 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