FURTHER GAINS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 147, 19 December 1944, Page 5

FURTHER GAINS

OFFENSIVE IN ITALY-

FRUITLESS RESISTANCE (U.P.A. and 8.0. W.) Rec. 9 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 13. An Allied communique from Italy reports that Canadians of the Eighth Army made further gains south of Bagnacavallo against strong resistance. Other Eighth Army troops have virtually cleared Faenza, although isolated pockets of resistance still remain in the northern outskirts of the town. Our troops now hold the line of the Senio River on a broad front southwards of the main Bologna-Rimini road. Polish troops of the Eighth Army, on their left, are approaching the Senio River against strong resistance, and have taken the villages of Limisano and Casette. Patrols remain active on the Fifth Army front. The New Zealanders, exploiting the capture of Faenza, pressed forward to cut a vital railway leading to Bologna just north of the town, says Reuters correspondent in Italy. New Zealand sappers, despite German shelling and machine-gunning, quickly cleared obstructions and booby traps, RIVER REACHED. The New Zealanders have reached the Senio River three miles west of Faenza on a broad front southwards from Route 9. while their forward troops have already crossed the river ;to contact the Germans on the far side. 1 Polish troops, at the same time, have been pushing on south-east of Imola. [They captured San Mamante, in Curiano, and cleared strong-points in the [high ground between the Sintria and | Senio Rivers, thereby gradually bring- | ing pressure to bear on Imola, which [is the last city on the railway line beifore Bologna.

They are now about six miles south and south-east of Bologna and less than six miles from the New Zealanders' position on Route 9 to Imola.

Further north, Bagnacavallo. nine miles north-east of Faenza, is threatened by Canadians _on three sides. The enemy is resisting fiercely and heavy fighting is taking place. The Canadians who crossed the Fosse Muniola canal west of Canale Naviglio made contact with the enemy in strength and withdrew.