NAZI ARMIES MASS TO GUARD FLORENCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 181, 2 August 1944, Page 5

NAZI ARMIES MASS TO GUARD FLORENCE

ON WIDE SEMI-CIRCLE N.Z. Troops Now Four Miles From City N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 1. The New Zealanders have seized a road junction which brings them within four miles of Florence. Reuters correspondent at Allied Headquarters in Italy this afternoon reported that German resistance on both flanks of the hill line guarding Florence had loosened slightly and that strong elements of New Zealand and Indian troops, closely supported by tanks, had infiltrated deep towards the city. In a later dispatch, however, the same correspondent stated that at least 50,000 Germans were massed on a wide semi-tircular front before Florence, and were counter-attacking fiercely. Picked Panzer Grenadiers have been posted on the immediate approaches to Florence from the south, forming an iron ring around the city. Tiger tanks support the German defences along the battlefront, which takes the form of a 30mile arc. Hill Line Strongly Held The Germans, despite New Zealand and Indian infiltrations, still strongly hold the hill line, guarding the city. The New Zealanders have maintained their grip on the bitterly contested San Michele village, which has been the scene of yet another counter-attack.

The South Africans, east of the Rome-Florence highway, have reached the Greve River, but the Germans are strongly defending three river crossings.

The German news agency stated that Allied bombers have deprived Florence of water and electric light, but the German Army is not affected because the city accommodates no troops, staffs or military establishment.

The news agency added that the Germans have evacuated the historical parts of Pisa to deprive the Allies of any pretext for their destruction of irreplaceable art treasures. American artillery has already damaged the Leaning Tower. Berlin radio yesterday stated that the tower wafe destroyed. Tough War Episode The German defenders of Florence are turning the battle of the Chianti Hills, south of the city, into one of the toughest episodes in the Italian campaign, says Reuters correspondent at Allied Headquarters. They have massed five divisions on a wide semi-circular front south of Florence and are still counter-attacking fiercely against the Eighth Army's slowly tightening grip. The Allies are converging on the city along a 30-mile front.

The battlefront has changed little in the past 24 hours, although the British are keeping up their pressure and steadily clearing out the Germans from strong points one by one. The Germans are clearly determined to make a stand after the Cassino pattern. They strongly hold the north banks of both the Arno and Pesa Rivers.

The Exchange Telegraph correspondent in Rome states that New Zealand veterans of El Alamein are playing an important part in the battle for Florence. They have successfully repelled a counter-attack at the village of San Odrea, six miles from Florence, and have now captured the place. German tanks in yet another counter-attack have succeeded in entering San Michele, but the Allies still hold the town.