BEYOND THE RUBICON

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 79, 30 September 1944, Page 7

BEYOND THE RUBICON

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

(Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.y

RUBICON, September 27. The progress of the New Zealanders up the Adriatic coast is steady, but not yet spectacular. The Rubicon proved no obstacle, and our troops were delayed only a few hours before strong bridgeheads, supported by armour, were established on the northern bank.

This morning our armoured car patrols are probing forward in the face of light, resistance and have reached positions less than five miles short of the next fair-sized coastal town of Cesantico. This represents an advance of some two miles in the last 24 hours. Yesterday afternoon our armour reached the mouth of the Rubicon and found that a steel bridge spanning the deep tidal stream was damaged but was quite negotiable. Armoured cars and infantry went across and thrust on through Bellaria. This morning I went by jeep up the coast road and passed over a bridge into this gutted collection of seaside villas, which is representative of many wrecked resorts along this coast. The bridge, a substantial girder structure spanning a deeply-banked stream, bears marks of hurried attempts at demolition, but they accomplished nothing beyond a few holes in the decking. The river itself is cluttered with pitiful wrecks of schooners, caiques, and steel fishing vessels. They had been blown up as part of the elaborate fortifications to protect the- beach from a seaborne landing which never eventuated. LITTLE OPPOSITION. Up ahead mortar bombs are dropping among our most forward armoured cars, and from time to time enemy shells whistle overhead and fall on the road behind. Last night New Zealand tanks and infantry forced a passage across the stream on our left flank. It was regarded as a manoeuvre which might result in serious clashes with the enemy, but surprisingly little opposition was encountered. Few prisoners were taken, resistance being confined to Spandau -and sniper fire, together with artillery. The country still has the same characteristics as we have met since Rimini—substantial houses on the coast and chains of buildings, ditches, and land covered with trees, maize fields, and embankments further inland. Demolitions and water barriers are the chief bar to taster progress.