FORWARD DRIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1945, Page 7

FORWARD DRIVE

Po River Reached

ALLIED PRESSURE IN ITALY (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Bee. 10 a.m. ■ ' LONDON, 'April 23. The sth and Bth Armies have reached the Po River at several points, says Reuters correspondent at Allied headquarters in Italy. Earlier it was reported that the armies were surging forward towards the river and mopping up isolated pockets on the wides plain. The Germans in the central sector are withdrawing very rapidly to conform to the general line formed by the pressure against both flanks. The plain of the Po Valley north of Bologna is systematically, being cut up.

The sth Army has driven forward as far as 35 miles north-north-west of Bologna in some places, aud the §th Army is less than 2500 yards from Ferrara. A correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that both armies are reaching out with their full armoured strength in an effort to smash the retreating Germans. The sth Army is still'running into many demolitions and strongpoints in which there are mortars and artillery: The Germans have left many snipers, ' and minefields have delayed the sth Army north-west of Bologna. American and South African troops reached the Secchia River so swiftly that they were able to seize two bridges before the Germans could destroy. ■ them. The Secchia River flows a mile west of Modena northward into the .' . Po River. Heavy bombers of the strategic air force and aircraft of the Tactical Air Force struck today at the retreating enemy in Italy, says a correspondent at Field-Marshal "Alexander's headquarters. Fortresses and Liberators attacked nine road bridges to cut the

/ . enemy lines of communication across the Adidge and Brenta Rivers. Good, results were reported. Thunderbolts continued to hunt for German vehicles fleeing north, while Mitchells bombed the Po River crossings. They also attacked two targets on the Brenner line.'