Advance South-West Of Velletri

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24270, 30 May 1944, Page 5

Advance South-West Of Velletri

more towns fall TO ALLIES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, May 29. The Germans are throwing all their available forces into He battle for Highway 6 and for the defences below Rome. To-day’s Allied communique says that .British and American troops of the sth Army have made a substantial advance southwest of Velletri, 20 miles from Rome, where the German defences skirt the Alban hills. Other Allied forces are little more than one mile from Valjnontone, which is on Highway 6, about 10 miles north-west of Velletri. .Correspondents report the capture of Norma, 12 jiiles south-east of Velletri. Nearer the sea, British forces are moving north from Carroceto, with Campoleone as their next objective. Further back, in the Liri valley, British and Canadians of tie Bth Army are now operating from Ceprano, Reuter reports that Villa San Stefano, 10 miles south-west of Ceprano, has been taken. The capture by the New Zealanders of Belmonte, about five miles north of Cassino, is also reported. “Continuing their advance through mountainous country, the New Zealanders, on ihe right flank of the Bth Army, early this morning occupied Belmonte,” reported an official New Zealand war correspondent yesterday. “They had been subjected to heavy mortar and shellfire in exposed places, but the capture of Belmonte should ease the position. The New Zealanders are carrying on with the advancfc.” The number of prisoners taken since the present offensive began has reached 16,000.

“It is evident that the enemy is doing all within his power to resist car advance against the ValmontoneI'elletri line, south of Highway 6.” cays to-day’s Allied communique from Italy. "In spite of »his. British and Americans of the sth Army have made a substantial advance southwest of Velletri against increasing opposition. “French and American troops of the SlhArmy yesterday continued to drive He enemy northward to the mountains approaching Highway 6. “Canadian and British troops of the ph Army made some progress in the Liri and Sacco valleys. “The New Zealanders advanced in 4e mountains to the north and occupied Belmonte. “A French cruiser yesterday again imbarded artillery positions north of .toio and successfully neutralised Wile guns. A destroyer also bomtitded targets in the same area. Fires aid explosions were caused in gun positions and direct hits were obtained srainst mechanised transport. Considerably more than 7000 rounds have teen fired in the many bombardments Nn the sea since May 12 in support cl the land offensive. 'Medium bombers yesterday struck isainst railway bridges and railways in central and northern Italy. Light bombers and fighter-bombers were active against supply dumps, enemy positions, bridges, railways, roads, and motor transport in the battle area elsetvWe in central Italy. “Fighters bombed and strafed targets in Jugoslavia, including aircraft on the ground, motor transport, railn’3'’ trains, and enemy concentrations. “Heavy bombers attacked harbour Installation l ! at Genoa and railway vards at Vercelli. Medium bombers last night attacked objectives at Porto S?n Stefano. "Four enemy aeroplanes were destroyed for the loss of three Allied aircraft The Mediterranean air forces lew more than 2000 sorties.” Sixteen Miles from Rome “The sth Army north of Carroceto, iftef cutting the road between Anzio md Albano. is now one mile south of ’ampoleone and 16i miles from Some,” says Reuter’s correspondent at tdyanced Allied headquarters. ‘‘The Stilish have captured the Carroceto hetory area. 'Hie Allies are now about li miles ™m Lanuvio and a little more than ! mile south of Valmontone. The Germans, supported by tanks, coun-ter-attacked vigorously on the Val-aontone-Lanuvio front. "The towns of Sermoneta and Basiano, south-east of Cisterna. are reported to be clear of the enemy, aloough sniners are still active in the rarby hills. ."The Bth Armv continued to advance lr °ugh the hills north-west of Rqcaseeca, and has surrounded the town t Santo Padre (north-east of Arce), M also Monte Orio. which dominates prw from the south-east. The French have captured Monte uerno, a peak one mile north of San Stefano. It is officially announced that the Pawn 71st. 94th. and 715 th divisions lave been virtually destroyed.” The Allies are pursuing remnan*s * German armies in the whole between Ceprano and Valmonf®>’ says the Naples radio. ‘‘Eighth Jrtny patrols have reached Arce. wavy fighting is in progress against Aroian paratroops.” The British United Press corresponW with the sth Army reports: “The ““M troops who are attacking the ■*rtnan positions in the Alban Hills titrated the enemy lines and forced 2 s Germans to shorten their front, if® new attack, which the Germans r, admitted has achieved a measure *lii™«. cess ' * s apparently intended _to • e German positions on the hills Rome. .American troops and tanks began L„ 6a ltle on Friday morning and adv «d 2000 yards in the first, hour. hea vy fighting is now going on | ,ei ‘her end of the Via Ariana, which

winds for 13 miles along the dip between the Alban Hills and the Lepini mountains and links the Appian Way with Highway 6, the inland road to Rome.” Towards Alban Hills A new offensive by British forces from the centre of the Anzio perimeter towards Lake Albano, 12 miles south of Rome, was announced yesterday in a Reuter dispatch from sth Army Headquarters. The offensive, which was launched after a heavy artillery barrage, met with only light resistance in the early stages, but German opposition stiffened later in the day. The correspondent, expressing the opinion that there was a hard tight ahead in this area of gullies and streams, emphasised that the Alban Hills, which were likely to prove the last defence line south of Rome, lay behind the Germans. American troops and tanks thrusting up towards Valmontone, at the northern end of the line, took Artena, three miles away, and advanced beyond it in spite of fierce resistance by the Herman Goering Panzer Division which the Germans have thrown in. "American artillery to-night is blasting Highway 6, directly before Valmontone,” reported a Reuter correspondent yesterday. “Violent tank and infantry battles are in progress before the German last ditch line from Velletri eastward through Valmontone. German rearguards are being steadily forced back below the Rome road. Our dive-bombers are constantly raking the exit roads.” Drive Towards Arce “The hardest fighting of the campaign has developed for ’ two heights dominating Highway 6 in the path of the Allied drive towards Arce.” reported Reuter’s correspondent with the Bth Army yesterday. “The British are assailing heights held by fanatical German paratroops. They are standing on the 1000 foot twin heights of Monte Grande and Monte Picolo, and the 1500 foot Monte Orio. Any Allied move towards the defile draws fire from German batteries concentrated in the hills beyond Arce. "The Germans are also fighting desperately to hold open a neck of land less than three miles broad commanding Highway 6, south of Valmontone. The Americans south of this crucial road have entered the outskirts of Velletri. The Germans have pulled more reserves into the line in attempting to buttress their gravely threatened positions. “The Germans are facing a more vital problem than saving Rome—the saving of the men of the trapped divisions now being squeezed tighter in the Allied press south of Rome. Already the Germans’ chances of getting out their equipment are rapidly deteriorating. Hope of saving guns and heavy equipment has long gone. American tanks from the beachhead are now within striking distance of Valmontone, and are astride Highway 6.’