RAVENNA FALLS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1944, Page 5

RAVENNA FALLS

EIGHTH ARMY SUCCESS

NAZIS BREAK AT RUSSI

<By Teiegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 9.40 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 5. The Eighth Army has captured Ravenna, on the Adriatic coast of Italy. Earlier, the Exchange Telegraph agency's correspondent in Italy said that the Eighth Army north-east of Faenza, after bitter fighting, had advanced more thvn five miles. This drive followed a break through the Russi area. The drive continued northward and cut the main RavennaBologna road and railway one and a naif miles north of Godo, which is on the Ravenna-Bologna railway five miles east of Russi. The railway embankment north of Russi was strongly defended by dugm machine-guns, anti-tank guns, and

Mary mines. Our troops ranged themselves along this line. After clearing Russi, Eighth Armytroops fanned ogt across the Lamone River, the enemy standing in strength behind? the river. Many scattered enemy outposts were found and cleared. Other forces crossed the Montone River and joined up with forces advancing between the Montone and Lamone Rivers*- The British now have won their way to a network of good roads north-east of Russi leading west and north. WORK OF FIFTH ARMY. The principal Fifth Army activity is in the sector adjoining the Eighth Army front where Indians have cleared more heights. A communique from Italy reports that the Eighth Army, between the Montone and Lamone Rivers, forced the bridgeheads across the Scolo via Cupa canal against strong resistance. After a rapid advance they cut the i Ravenna-Bologna railway at Godo and I captured Russi. All organised German resistance | east of Lamone and south of Russi has | been cleared. Fifth Army Indian troops have occupied a number of features including Monte Visano and entered the town of Casola Valsenio on the road to Castel Bolognese. Troops of the Twenty-first Lancers,! i serving as infantry, were the first to I | enter Ravenna. At the same time troops of Princess Louise's Dragoons,' outflanking the city from the northwest, forced the Germans to pull out |to avoid being trapped. [ Ravenna is second only to Rome in | historic associations. It was a flourishing port under the Emperor AugusI tus. and the capital for 350 years. ! The troops entering the city left i j their armoured cars on the road and used small boats to cross the water barriers and flooded plain. A corre- i spondent says that Ravenna is well scarred by bombs and shells, but that most of the ancient monuments, including the tomb of Dante, have escaped severe injury. One of the oldest, the' Church of St. John the Evangelist, which had stood for 1500 years, has been completely destroyed