ALLIED ADVANCE IN ITALY

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24280, 10 June 1944, Page 4

ALLIED ADVANCE IN ITALY

Retreat of Enemy WITHDRAWAL ON ADRIATIC (N Z. Press Association —Copyright) 6 o m.) LONDON. June 8. The Germans in Italy afe ! r ® tir " ing on both sides of the Tiber before the vigorous advances of both the sth and Bth Armies. There has been heavy local fighting east of the Tiber. The Germans have also begun to withdraw from the Adriatic sector. Yesterday 1500 sorties were flown against 15 targets on the west coast ot 11 The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says informed circles regard the Italian campaign, as well as’the new blows expected on the Russian front, as co-ordinated with the invasion of France, adding that there is real evidence of disorganisation in Marshal Kesselring’s forces, whose Withdrawal looks more like a rout than a retreat. There are indications that General Alexander will not be content with limited gains in Italy and may compel the Nazis to pull reserves from other theatres to Italy for a desperate stand below the Po valley. The Allied commander in Italy (General Alexander) revealed that 8000 German wounded were found in the hospitals of Home. Alexander’s Objective

General Alexander said the first phase of the battle had been a brilliant success, but the capture of Rome, was a military objective of small importance. What was more important was that they were achieving what they set out to do—to smash the German armies in the field. ‘‘We have gone a long way towards that,” he said. ‘‘lf we keen it up and follow him quickly we shall achieve a great victory of farreaching effect in the whole outcome of the war.” Troops of the sth Army who occupied Bracoiano, south-east of Civilavecchia, found slight resistance. The advance continues east of Lake Bracciano, on Highway 3, and Civita Castellana, 30 miles due north ot Rome, has been occupied. .All the, bridges ai’e reported to have been demolished, and the highway over the next 20 miles to Narni has craters m about 20 places. Reconnaissance units captured Marshal Kesselring’s former headquarters, an elaborate tunnelled underground stronghold, about three miles southeast of Civita Castellana. The battered remnants of Marshal Kesselring’s 14th Army are officially reported to be in a state of considerable disorganisation. At least 40 Wehrmacht formations are represented among the prisoners taken in the flight from Rome. Whole battalions, cut adrift from their regular commands, attached themselves to whatever higher echelons were available. Eighth Army troops have occupied Guidonia, 20 miles louth-east of Rome, and several other places. NEW GOVERNMENT FOR ITALY SIGNOR BONOMI ASKED TO FORM CABINET BADOGLIO UNABLE TO GET AGREEMENT (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 9. A Rome report says Prince Umberto has invited Signor Ivanoe Bonomi, an Italian lawyer, journalist, and politician, to form a new Government. It is understood Signor Bonomi stipulated that the new Ministers should lake an oath of loyalty to the fatherland instead of to the dynasty. Political leaders including Count Sforza, Signor Croce, and Signor Orlando, after a conference lasting an hour, rejected Marshal Badoglio’s terms for collaboration in a new Government. Marshal Badoglio informed Prince Umberto of his failure to reach an agreement with the other leaders. Prince Umberto arrived in Rome on Thursday afternoon. He was warmly received as he drove through the streets in an open car. Marshal Badoglio.. arrived in Rome during the morning and was also warmly acclaimed. • The Pope received LieutenantGeneral Mark Clark, the Cohunander-in-Chief of the sth Army, on Thursday morning. Signor Bonomi, aged 71, was expelled in 1912 from the Socialist Party. He advocated Italian participation in the war against Germany in 1914-18, and was a Cabinet Minister in the National Government in 1916. He held office in several Ministries after the war, and with Count Sforza negotiated the Treaty of Rapallo, He was Prime Minister in 1921 and 1922, retiring from politics in the latter year. ASSAM CAMPAIGN STRONG ENEMY POSITION CAPTURED (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 8. ‘‘Apart from one isolated pocket of resistance on the southern slope, Aradura spur was captured at dawn on Wednesday,” says a correspondent on the Kohima front in Assam. ‘‘This important hill feature is now firmly held and its capture means that the battle has moved south from Kohima and that we now control the main road as far as milestone 52, six miles from Naga township. Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten’s communique says: ‘‘Our troops on both sides of the Kohima-Imptiai road made satisfactory progress. South-west of Imphal plain there is increased enemy activity. Near Bishenpur we repulsed an attack made with artillery and mortar support.” BATTLE FOR CHANGSHA BITTER FIGHTING REPORTED (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING. June 9. Bitter fighting is raging southwards of the Tungting Lake, according to a Chungking communique. A Japanese column advanced along the HankowCanton lailway to within four miles to the north of Changsha. Other enemy spearheads are attacking 40 miles north-eastward, eastward, and northwestward of the city. Chines*; troops have occupied part of Lungling, the most important Japanese base west of the Salween. The communique says: “Our troops in Lungling' hold the west gate and are continuing attacks to extend their positions. The enemy has suffered over 3000 casualties since the original crossing of the Salween. The Chinese also took the offensive north-east of Tengchung, making limited gains.” WORLD MONETARY CONFERENCE BRITISH DELEGATION (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 8. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Anderson) informed the House of Commons that the British delegation to the conference on an international monetary fund would consist of Lord Keynes (leader), sir Wilfred Eady (one yi the Second Secretaries of the Treasury), Mr W. S. Ronald (Assistant Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office), Professor Lionel Robbins (head of the economic section of the War Cabinet secretariat). Professor D. H. Robertson (economic adviser to the Treasury), and Mr Redvers Opin, of the Washington Embassy staff. The Hon. N. F. Brand, Treasury representative at Washington, would be associated with the delegation to attend meetings when convenient