EXPLOITING GAINS IN ITALY

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 3, 28 September 1944, Page 5

EXPLOITING GAINS IN ITALY

Rubicon Bridgehead

NEW GERMAN GUN IN ACTION (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received September 27, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 27. Eighth Army troops have extended their bridgehead over the Rubicon. On the Adriatic sector the advance continues our troops being on the outskirts of a town nine miles beyond Rimini. On the central sector the Germans have thrown in three divisions to stem the advance of the Fifth Army, north of Florence, in its drive toward Bologna. Resistance has stiffened all along the Italian front. The Germans are now using a new weapon, the 88inm. anti-tank gun, which is said to be a considerable improvement over the 88mm. dual purpose gun for anti-tank purposes. Dramatic Battle. Few battles have ever had such a dramatic background as the Allied assault which won crossings over the historic Rubicon River, once the boundary of ancient Italy, says the “Daily Express” correspondent. The Allies in their night attack used searchlights to aid their advance, but a terrific thunderstorm made their artificial moonlight pale and ineffective. The Allies( who previously cursed the dust, now cursed the rain, which coursed in rivulets through the capes they used as blankets in the slit trenches. The battlefield steamed with daylight’s returning sun and Allied motorized vehicles skidded and swung about. The battle of the Rubicon is not yet won, though we have crossed the river at several places. The Germans, with tanks and guns, are still fighting m houses and vineyards, but it is now flat country, and our tanks are able to go in line abreast instead of sneaking one after another up mountain defiles. The Germans are no longer able to hold up tanks with a handful of men and one gun by retreating from ravine to ravine. It is now a war of deployment in the open where our advantage in armour and guns must make the Germans decide between heavy losses or retreat to the Po River. Such losses for them may be unavoidable anyway if the retreat is left too long. Attempted New Line. Though the Gothic defence zone has been smashed on a wide front, the Germans are desperately trying to set up a new line along the forward slopes of the high ground north of the Gothic Line, says the Exchange Telegraph. Agency’s Rome correspondent. The British eastern flank of the Fifth Army has met with varying resistance and occupied San Benedetto and captured two mountains in an area about 10 miles east of Firenzuola. Dominion troops of the Eighth Army, in capturing Bordonchio, six miles north of Rimini, broke through the main body of the German First Parachute Division to a depth of over a mile.» The enemy became disorganized and suffered many casualties A very heavy barrage preceded the attack. British troops who crossed the Rubicon pushed on several miles against stiff opposition and captured a village.

SKILL AND SPEED

M.E. Commander’s Praise (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 26. General Maitland Wilson, supreme commander in the Middle East, has. sent the following message to General Alexander, commander in Italy:— “Please accept yourself and convey to Generals Clark and Leese my congratulations on the operations of the past week, which have resulted in the breaking of the Gothic Line and have paved the way for further great victories. The skill and speed with which the Eighth' Army regrouped once more completely surprised Field-Marshal Kesselring. The determined attack of the American and British troops of the Fifth Army in most difficult country has now breached the GotHic Line at the strongest place, and the Fifth Army stands ready to push forward into the plains. I hope th? crossing of the Rubicon will lead you to the destruction of Kesselring’s army.”