SPECTACULAR GAIN MADE BY N.Z. TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 260, 31 July 1944, Page 5

SPECTACULAR GAIN MADE BY N.Z. TROOPS

Poised For Final Drive On

Florence (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received July 30, 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 29. New Zealanders, by a spectacular advance, a footing in the hills five miles from Florence forming the last German line before the city, reports the “Exchange Telegraph’s” Rome correThe New Zealanders attacked on the night of July 27, advanced over two miles from their bridgehead over the Pesa River at Cerbaia and broke into the enemy lines. The Germans the following morning staged a violent counter-attack supported by liger tanks. A company of New Zealanders at one point had to pull back nearly half a mile, but the rest of the New Zealand positions remained firm. , , »n. G The New Zealanders are the closest of the Allied troops to Florence. An Indian division is approaching a town 10 miles south of the city and there is heavy fighting for the possession ot commanding high ground.

Reuter's correspondent with the Eighth Army says: “I have seen squadrons of New Zealand tanks lined up for the final drive against Florence. The crews are awaiting the great hour of entry into the city. The Allies are now smashing against the final hill defences guarding Florence, which is faintly visible. The Germans are being steadily pressed back into an arc south-west and south of the city.” Toles on the Adriatic sector advanced on a front of over 10 miles against weakening resistance. Four towns, including Ostra, all within two miles of the Misa River, have been occupied, Though the approaches to the river were mined and all the bridges across the Misa demolished, Poles on the outskirts of Senigallia sent patrols across the riv-' er under artillery and mortar fire. The Berlin radio commentator, Sertorius, said: “The battle for the Arno sectors has begun. Strong enemy forces are approaching them, pouring down from (he mountains between the Elsa Valley and the lower course of the Arno.” The Italy air communique says 12 •enemy aircraft were destroyed in the Mediterranean in Allied aircraft operations yesterday, which included raids on Ploesti and Florina, Greece. Twentyfive of our planes arc missing in some 1700 sorties. Mines Explode Near King.

His Majesty spent the sixth day of his visit lo the Italian front at the headquarters of tlie Fifth Army, reports Reuter's correspondent. 'The King inspected a parade of American troops three-quarters of a mile long, and presented General Clark with the insignia of honorary K.B.E. Two’* German mines exploded fewer than 300 yards from the King when, he was lunching after an inspection of Fifth Army troops, reports Reuter’s correspondent at advanced headquarters. General Mark Clark and Archbishop Spellman. of New York, were seated with the King. An American soldier who trod on the mines was killed instantly.

CROSSING OF RIVER

Powerful New Zealand Assault

(Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.)

EIGHTH ARMY FRONT, July 27.

Our troops have just entered San Casciano, on Highway 2, which leads to Florence, only seven or eight miles away. It is nine o’clock in the morning and reports are still coming in of the success of the attack the New Zealanders launched last night, in which they crossed the I’esa River and, besides forcing the enemy from Casciano, established a spearhead over, the river on the left flank further up the valley. Infantry crossed the river, which is easily fordable even in a jeep, under shell and mortar fire, and engineers are now at work preparing the way for armour and supporting weapons. An artillery barrage started last night just before 10 o'clock. The noise was terrific, but onee or twice there was a brief let-up, when we could hear the heavy crump of our shells landing. The flashes from our bursting shells which we saw early in the attack soon could not be picked up through the heavy pall raised by churned-up earth', shattered buildings and smoke. The enemy had taken advantage of almost every house in this thickly populated area for a machinegun post or infantry strongpoint. but our armoured vehicles with infantry and tanks'ln support, have combined Io oust them. One building, armoured vehicles attacked from the front while infantry worked their way through trees to the back, where a dozen or more Germans, hoping to make a quick getaway, were captured. Yesterday the enemy flung shell after shell against the ridge overlooking the volley and sent long-range ones back on to our communication lines in the vain hope of stemming our advance. Shelling by Germans. There were two spectacular divebombing attacks on San Casciano, the first, by Mustangs and lhe second by Kittybombers. They raised great clouds of dust and smoke which overhung the town for a long lime and then spread like a thin low-lying cloud across the length of the ridge. At one end of the town they spotted an enemy coneentration which tliey bombed and shelled. Over San Casciano at I his moment 1 can see occasional air-bursts and just down below me in lhe valley where infantry are pouring through Hie enemy is dropping shells unceasingly. lie does not Seem to have hit anything, but the road is becoming increasingly bare ol traffic. , I am writing from the upper story ot of a farm-house which overlooks the whole valley just across from San Casciano. The enemy seeins to have plenty of guns and knows Ibis part of lhe country so that much of his bro is disconcertingly accurate at limes. Jl*' slill has direct observation from our 101 - Infantrymen told me that much of his Spandau fire at night has been wild, but 1 that has been mostly at night.