SLOW MOVEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 80, 2 October 1944, Page 5

SLOW MOVEMENT

ADVANCE IN ITALY

BAD^WEATHER CONTINUES

LONDON, October 1. . In spite of continued bad weather in. Italy, the Allied armies are making steady, if slow, progress. On the Adriatic front Eighth Army troops have gained control of Savignano, on the road to Bologna. A correspondent says that for the last few days the Eighth Army's operations have been a matter of slow movement forward. He praises the Allied air forces which have been bombing communications in the Po Valley.

New Zealand troops of. the Eighth Army have cleared six miles of the right bank of the Fiumicino River, which runs north and west of Savignano, but they have strong enemy defences facing them. In the central Apennines, FifthArmy troops are progressing slowly, much hampered by flooded roads and streams.

Rec. 9 a.m. LONDON, October 1. A Mediterranean air communique says that although bad weather again restricted operations on September 30, medium bombers successfully attacked bridges in the Venice and Milan areas. Fighter-bombers attacked communications in the Po Valley. Medium and heavy bombers last night attacked the bridge over the Po River at San Benedetto. Three planes are missing.

- Heavy rain continues. The Germans are still heavily opposing the Fifth Army's hold on Monte Bataglia. Yesterday they used flame-throwers to support an unsuccessful infantry counter-attack. The Germans are being reinforced in "this area. BREATHER FOR THE ENEMY. "The weather in Italy is giving the Germans an unexpected breathing space," says the "Daily Mail's" Rom* correspondent. "The Allies may have a close race with the rains in their bid to drive across the plains of Lombardy to the Alps. The rains at present are bogging down men and machines and balking the Eighth Army' from early fruits of its triumph in surmounting the last Apennine peak and the Fifth Army of its victory in the Gothic Line. "The autumn break in the weather has come ear./.r than usual, and there is a fairly good chance that it will be temporary, giving one more dry spell that will enable both armies to finish their task. The next two or three weeks will be decisive."