NEW ZEALANDERS PUSHING FORWARD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 177, 28 July 1944, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS PUSHING FORWARD

BATTLEFORFLORENCE

Smashing Through Stiff Opposition N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, July 27. The New Zealand troops of the Eighth Army, smashing through stiff opposition on Highway 2, have pushed patrols into the neighbourhood of San Casciano and have also reached high ground south-west of San Stefano, reports Reuters correspondent in Italy. The New Zealanders have taken prisoner 100 Germans in the past three days.

The South Africans, due south of Florence, have reached a point four miles north of Greve. The New Zealanders and South Africans are the same distance—eight miles— from Florence.

A British vanguard has reached the lateral road from Figline to Greve. The British to the east, after desperate fighting, have captured Campriano, which is a hill feature north-east of Arezzo. British and Indian troops have cleared a broad expanse of the upper Tiber Valley, beyond Citta di Castello -and gained complete control of the Arezzo-Citta di Castello road.

British troops, overcoming tough resistance, have edged closer to San Sepolcro, ten miles north-west of Citta di Castello, and some units have already by-passed the town from the west. The fall of this important road junction is imminent. The Germans still hold the northern part of Pisa and are continuing to erect barricades and machine-gun posts along key streets in the upper part of the city. The enemy, by increasing the tempo of their shellfire. are trying to deny the Allies the use of the main roads, south of Pisa.

The Poles and Italians of the Eighth Army, are on the fringe of Port Senigallia, 15 miles north-west of Ancona.

The King spent most of Tuesday with the Eighth Army. He made the last part of the journey in a jeep. From a direct observation post in front of Arezzo, which was then newly captured His Majesty on Tuesday watched British artillery shell the little church of Capriano, 3000 yards distant, says the Associated Press correspondent in Italy. The King saw Sherman tanks, with Indian infantry in support, work their way up the hillside to a German strongpost in the basement of the church.

Reuters correspondent in Italysays the King drove to an observation post past miles of cheering troops. He later had a swim and conducted a small investiture.

The British United Press correspondent reports that Polish troops of the Eighth Army have reached the banks of the Misa .River, 18 miles north-west of Ancona.