OPERATIONS IN ITALY

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24502, 27 February 1945, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN ITALY

sth armylmproves POSITIONS

AIR ATTACK ON BRENNER LINE (N.Z.,Press Association—Copyright)

(Reo. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 26. The sth Army in Italy has consolidated recently-won hill positions on the central sector, and on the Bth Army’s front patrols continue to be active.

Yesterday Allied Mediterranean air-r craft made 2100 operational flights. Besides attacking communications and other targets in Austria and Italy, our aeroplanes made 13 cuts in the Brenner Pass railway, line. Targets in Jugoslavia were attacked by the Allied Balkan Air Force, Twenty of our aircraft are missing. "The lull on the Bth Army’s front was broken two nights ago when an attack was launched by our troops south-west of Bagnacavallo, about 10 miles north of Faenza,” a correspondent in Italy on Sunday. "After overcoming strong enemy resistance our troops seized several positions on the east floodbanks along the Senio river, where the Germans have been preparing defences since December. In the Senio bend, south-west of Cottignola. about two miles south of the area where the adyance was made and where German resistance was stillest, the enemy has succeeded in holding isolated positions on the'eastern bank of the river. To the north the enemy is also holding the eastern bank, but one German position has been bypassed and left behind the Bth Army lines. . _ “On the sth Army’s front stiff fighting continues, with American troops, supported by aircraft and artillery, improving their positions on the eastern and western slopes of Monte Della Torraccia, two miles north-east of Monte Belvedere, at the northern end of the ridge. The enemy repeatedly attempted to' infiltrate. our lines, but every time he was driven back with losses, while our forces consolidated and strengthened their positions. “About three miles to the eastward Brazilian troops continued their supporting attack and moved forward against resistance to capture two dominating hills, which are shown on the map as HiU.739 and Hill 958. the latter being more than 3000 feet high. In the same area they also occupied the villages of Bellavista and La Serra. “In efforts to counter our gams the enemy launched three counter-attacks near’La Serra. employing feigning tactics and hand grenades. The first two attacks were repulsed and the third was driven back after temporary denting of our lines. Hand-to-hand fighting was reported in this area. “The enemy continues ,to harass our troops in the attack areas with artillery and mortar fire. Elsewhere on the front only patrol clashes took Pl Mediterranean-based fighter-bombers scored their first victory over an enemy jet-propelled aeroplane when two American pilots shot down two Messerschmitt. 262's in 25 minutes 15 miles north-west of Passa, near the AustrianGerman border, last Thursday.This is revealed by a correspondent in Italy. The pilots said that though the jet-propelled aeroplane had an incredible speed their own superior manoeuvrability won the battle.

WIDER POWERS FOR ITALY

ALLIED CONTROLS RELAXED

LONDON, Feb. 25. “The relaxation of controls in Italy, under which the Italian Government will resume unfettered authority over its own external affairs and relations, and over spheres of Italian affqirs hitherto controlled by the Allied Commission, was announced to-day by the British Minister .Resident in the Mediterranean (Mr Harold Macmillan), says Reuter’s correspondent in Rome. “Italy is also at liberty to appoint her own officials without reference^ to the Allies, except for a small number of posts directly concerned with the prosecution of the war. . There is no change in the Allied Military Government’s control over the territory occupied by the Allied armies, but a rer adjustment of the demarcation line iS expected shortly, resulting in an expansion of the area urider the Italian Government’s control. “Mr Macmillan, announcing the changes, said they had been introduced because the Allies knew that the Italians had been dragged into the war by a cruel dictatorship against their true interests and long-standing traditions. ' . . "Mr Macmillan paid a tribute to the Italians’ present war effort against the Germans, and he expressed the hope that the Allies would be able to help Italy with her immense economic problems. ' . “The bread ration for Italians will be increased as soon as shipping is available.”

SEARCH FOR NAZI

SPIES

NEW YORK, Feb. 23.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, and army and navy intelligence officers are conducting an intensive search for at least four suspected Nazi spies aboard the Gripshqlm, which arrived on February 21, bringing 1209 passengers from Europe s including 62 repatriated American civilians. At least one suspect is a woman. Another is believed to be a former high ranking officer in the German army. Less than half the civilians have so far been allowed to land.

Attempt on Life of Nazi General.— Danish quarters in London have received advice of an attempt , made a few days ago against the life of the German commander-in-chief in Denmark (General Georg Lindemann). An explosion derailed a sleeping-car in which General Lindemann was travelling ih north-west Jutland, but he escaped unhurt. It is not reported whether any of the general’s companions were killed, but several German buildings in Copenhagen since the attempt have been flying flags at halfmast.—London, February 25.