NAZIS QUICKEN PACE OF RETREAT IN ITALY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 137, 12 June 1944, Page 4

NAZIS QUICKEN PACE OF RETREAT IN ITALY

MIDWAY TO FLORENCE

Fifth Army Over 60 Miles Beyond Rome K.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 2.30 p.m. LONDON, June 11. Allied troops to-night are nearing the halfway mark between Rome and Florence in their pursuit of the shattered German armies, says Reuters correspondent at Allied Headquarters in Italy. Fifth- Army Troops have occupied Montalto di Castro, 60 miles from Rome along the coastal road. The possibility of Kesselring putting up any kind of effective barrier, south of the Rimini-Pisa line becomes fainter.

LONDON, June 11

In the central mountainous sector the important Rome-Pescara road is still in German hands, but in the whole western sector from Rome to Avezzano the road is clear and Eighth Army troops have reached Avezzano.

The Associated Press correspondent says that the Germans who are retreating north are quickening their pace, leaving behind great patches of mines and stubborn rearguards.

Folowing closely the withdrawing enemy in the Adriatic coast sector in Italy, troops of an Indian division occupied the port of Pescara and the town of Chieti, according to yesterday's Allied communique. Other towns in this area were also occupied. The enemy evacuated Sulmona, in the mountain country further inland.

Latest reports.state that the Allied forces are now 15 miles north of Pescara.

Heavy .Enemy Casualties

A force of small minesweepers on Friday entered Porto San Stefano, on the.west coast of Italy. The Germans had evacuated the island, white flags were flying and the railway connection on the causeway between the island and the mainland appeared to be demolished.

A British destroyer on Wednesday night shelled a harbour south-east of Pola.

The Naples correspondent oi the Associated Press says that it is officially revealed that enemy casualties on the Italian front in the past month total 70,000.

Reuters correspondent at Allied Headquarters in Italy says 22 German divisions are now operating in Italy, one fewer than at the beginning of the Allied offensive.

Strong forces of heavy bombers yesterday attacked oil stores and refineries in the Trieste area. Fighterbombers struck against a refinery at Ploejsti. Tactical Air Force planes attacked railways, railway yards, roads, bridges and other targets in the battle area between Siena and Lake Bolsena, north of Viterbo. Offensive sweeps were also carried out against objectives in Yugoslavia and Southern Albania.

Twenty-seven planes were destroyed for the loss of 28. We flew approximately 2400 sorties. No enemy planes were sighted in daylight over the battle area. Allied bombers last night attacked oil installations at Bruk, in Yugoslavia.