PROGRESS MAINTAINED

Evening Star, Issue 25462, 18 April 1945, Page 5

PROGRESS MAINTAINED

OFFENSIVE IN ITALY NEW ZEALANDERS DISTINGUISHING THEMSELVES » (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 17. Eighth Army troops advancing from the Sillaro bridgehead on a wide front threaten Medicina and Castel San Pietro, says an Allied communique from Italy. Further gains were made west of Lake Comacchio against strong opposition. Fifth Army forces southwest of Bologna captured Mosca and Monte Abelle, and continued to advance. Progress was _ made elsewhere on the central sector in spite of heavy resistance. The Fifth "Army has moved slowly through heaviLy-niined areas in the second day of its offensive, while the Eighth Army has reported that 6,000 Germans have been taken prisoner sfnce the attack began on April 9, say correspondents at Allied headquarters in Italy. Fifth Army troops gained a maximum of 2,500yds near the coast, but strong German defences limited their right flank gains. The Germans launched 10 counter-attacks since the capture of Mosca. but they were all repulsed. The New Zealanders on the Eighth Army front are astride the Lugo-Bologna road and railway, and have broken the core of the enemy defences. They have pushed on two and a-half miles. Gurkhas, fighting south of the New Zealanders, are now only a mile from Medicina and 121 niiles east of Bologna. The Mediterranean Air J,orce kept up its hammering of German communications, including the Po River crossings.