“Significant Breach In Gustav Line”

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24258, 16 May 1944, Page 5

“Significant Breach In Gustav Line”

many prisoners TAKEN’ (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) |Rec. i a.m.) ' LONDON, May 15. To-day’s Allied communique from Italy says: “The Allied armies have made more progress in the attack against the Gus(af Line. Eighth Army troops in the Liri valley have penetrated jeep into the defences, overcoming fierce resistance at many Maces, and have mopped up enemy strongpoints which were in the first 24 hours of the attack, “French troops of the sth Army, after capturing the predominating mountain. Monte Majo, an important bastion of fhe enemy defence line, have been quick to exploit their successes. Pressing forward in the mountains north of Minturno flifh infantry and tanks, they captured more hill features and jlie villages of San Ambrogio, Vallemajo, and Ausonia. Thus gsignificant breach has been made in the Gustav Line. Enemy strongpoints have been by-passed and mopping up continues. “American troops have advanced and cut the Ausoniaformia road.

“A large number of prisoners have been taken and heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. Hard lighting continues along (he whole front. “Strong forces of heavy bombers yesterday attacked a number of railway yards in the Po valley, including those at Padua, Ferrara, Vicenza, Treviso, Mestre, and Mantua; and also airfields at Piacenza and Reggio Emilia. Medium bombers and fighter-bombers continued the assault against rail communications between Florence and Rome, attacking bridges and tracks at several points. Fighter-bombers also attacked gun positions and troop concentrations on the battle front, and communication targets on the Dalmatian coast. Medium bombers and heavy bombers last night attacked railway bridges at Latisanu and Casarsa with good results, and also an oil refinery at Portomagaro. Ten enemy aeroplanes were destroyed in the air during the day, and six of ours are missing. We flew 2500 sorties. About 30 enemy aeroplanes were sighted during the day over the battle area.”

"Allied troops have captured Santa Maria Infante, a village on a track across the hills from the Minturno lateral roadway,” says Reuter’s correspondent with the sth Army. “Its capture not only brings a section of this road, which runs from Cassino to the coast under Allied control, but also takes' the Allied troops to the western lide of the mountainous triangle of tbich Minturno is the base." “Allied tanks and infantry smashed into the Gustav Line south of Cassino yesterday morning, over-running a number of German positions and taking many prisoners in an outflanking drive which threatens the enemy’s entire Cassino position,” says the correspondent of the United Press. “The Germans threw in large parachutist forces in an effort to halt the advance. Monte Majo was taken after a brief struggle.” "On the lower Garigliano -sector,” says a correspondent in Naples, "the town of Tame, which was taken in the initial advance, was lost to a counterattack and retaken during daylight on Friday. Late on Friday the American-; in the Santa Maria Infante area recaptured Hill 66, just south-west of So'acciano, after having taken it and lost it during the afternoon. Fighting continued in and on three adjacent features vyhere elements of the German 49th Infantry Division were resisting capture on high g‘: oupd, "Warships are sticking the Gustav Line, and Allied ae ophne-.s are striking at gun positions to the no th givina effective support to the. offensive. "Photographs show lhat Flying Fortresses yesterday blew a 40-foot gap in the Alviso viaduct, on the railway from the Brenner Pass, thus temporarily blocking traffic into Italy." The Official German News Agency's commentator (Praegner) says: “The battle between the Tyrrhenian Sea and Casino has flared up into extreme violence. The Allied forces total 10 divisions. The German command, as before.-is pursuing preconceived tac-

tics of forcing the British and Americans to expend the maximum effort for every yard of ground.” A communique from Allied Headquarters yesterday reported an attack against the railway yards at Venice. Reuter’s correspondent says that between 500 and 750 Allied heavy bombers bombed the railway yards on the main lines in the' Po valley. Fortresses hammered the yards at Ferrara and Mantua, and Liberators attacked the yards at Vincenza, Padua, Pione di Sacco (10 miles south of Padua), and Mestre.

Marauders, escorted by Spitfires, attacked railway bridges on the main Florence line and Empoli-Siena line. Marauders also bombed a bridge between Florence and Arezzo, and another two miles west of Arezzo, where a span is believed to have received a direct hit. Confidence without cocksureness is the note of all Allied comments on the Italian offensive, and military commentators <>enerajly emlo se the Official German News Agency's statement that “an invasion music - plan has been pul into operation by the Allies.” Early successes in Italy are carefuilv not over-emphasised in London, either in the news columns or in the commentaries. The genera! tone is: "S i far, so good; but only the outer shell of the Gustav Line has been met.”

General Sir Robert Adam. AdjutantGeneral, to the British forces, said that there would be no walkover, but lie added: “We have started well. We shall hear some news in a d " or two. We shall have other offensives from this end and from Russia, and we hope it is goin u to be finished this year.” A hint that the Germans might withdraw troops f"om the Italian front to meet the Allied invasion of Europe was given to-day by the military spokesman for the Official German News Agency (von Hallensleben). He said: "The High Command may have to withdraw troops from the Italian front for reasons which have no connexion with the fighting on that front.”

SPARING OF , (CIVILIANS FRENCH CARDINALS’ APPEAL (Rec. 8 p. m .) LONDON, May 14. French cardinals have addressed an SPP? a I to Roman Catholic clergy in the {“lush Empire and the United Stales, “'ru* s Vichy radio, i , bombing ot France fills our earts with sadness and anxiety," I'!®!®*' the appeal. “Thousands of “ Vl hans have been killed and woundall ? their homes, also their ‘‘(lrenes and hospitals, have been decoyed. ask you to intervene with ckr res P ec tive governments that the vuinn population of France and siM?* 5 ® may be spared as much as posle. We are convinced that with ® car®, military objectives would jj" 1 be confused with humble dwcllievo neighbourhood. We beans ° lll ‘ Inwns. our works of art. bp ® Ur churches in p;,i lieiilnr. should c “Pared." flying,to the French cardinals' apDntliki 1 Lilians lie snared as far as K ,e in lhp i' ll raids, the British Jt I, as ** n -“ Corporation broadcast in tb « Uagts l *'e following warning to DilnLs'l® ot occupied Europe: "Our ofnif #• se l bat the lives and homes f or , ; rien ds arc at stake. They therccar„ exorcise the greatest possible iWit Hi srn,c of these attacks will jot, abl y add to the suffering which c ou ir2 Ur staunch friends—have so War f» ou^ y endured throughout the Of £ now ' the extreme difficulty *ea*V 3 IQn a * Present. Nevertheless “ yo «m"st urgently to take every ity of »u S • e ,n ninvp from the vicintrJal iVt Important railway and Indus-

MIGRATION IN EMPIRE

PRIME MINISTERS’ DISCUSSION SECRETARIAT PLAN LONDON, May 12, The Dominion Prime Ministers today exchanged views on migration with which they combined an examination of proposals designed to ensure a full degree of post-war employment throughout the Empire. Consideration was given also to various schemes for the reallocation of industries between Britain and the Dominions on the basis of populations and climatic and geographic conditions, Mr Curtin’s Empire secretariat project has now been relegated to last place on the agenda. It is becoming more and more evident that the best that can now be hoped for will be a compromise on Mr Curtin s original proposals. Mr Mackenzie King has made it dear that he has relaxed none of his hostility to a centralised Imperial authority. , Mr Fraser, who earlier was expected to prove Mr Curtin's strongest' supporter. lias since revealed that he is entirely satisfied with the present methods of consultiitiuns, he is maintaining an open mind on improvements. The greatest degree of support for Mr Curtin can now be exnected from General Smuts. . . Mr Churchill and the Dominions Secretary (Lord Cranborne) appear to be content to leave the Dominion Prime Ministers to thrash out the issue without interference on the ground that almost any Imperial framework is acceptable to Britain so long as it is conducive to the maximum deimee of unanimity. Hiey therefore prefer to continue on the present lines rather Ilian endorse a modification commanding only doubtful suppoit from some Dominions Mr Curlin himself disclaims any intention of insisting on acceptance of his plan in its original he claims can easily be modified to meet the requirements of othci uov ° The Australian and Canadian Prime Ministers at least are on the prosecution of the Pacific war.

klj ele J ec “on Campaign.— Opening •Wuenov 0 "/^ 1 ' 3 -^ 11 H1 bis own conJ* B 3led L .5 '"l eMr dp Valera apIle1 le '"Action ot his party ’U 1 : 011 " 1( ) form a stable gov•ly, wa,. ' n .® l , re - Be said that neutr.ilRie issue iu the election. Noritv a j Vi,s f( " a straightforward London ivcnirn enlal stability.—