COLLAPSE!

Evening Star, Issue 25472, 1 May 1945, Page 5

COLLAPSE!

ITALY CAMPAIGN WON GERMAN ARMIES TORN TO PIECES ALL OBJECTIVES TAKEN (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, April 30. " The enemy's military power in Italy has practically ceased," General Mark Clark said to-day. " Twenty-five divisions, some of the best in the German army, have been torn to pieces, and can no longer resist effectively. The total of prisoners is now more than 120,000. Scattered fighting may continue as the remnants'of the German armies are mopped up, but the Army Group has so destroyed the German armies in Italy that they are virtually eliminated as a military force. All this has been achieved in a 22-day offensive. There are no longer any major objectives to be taken before final victory in Italy. All objectives of any importance are already in our hands. This has been done with relatively little destruction of what was left of the North Italian industries." FALL OF TURIN. Turin has been captured by Japanese American troops, according to a correspondent at Allied headquarters in Ttaly. The Americans and South Africans have also taken Treviso, north of Venice, and are heading for the city of Undine. The First American Armoured Division captured von Behr,' commanding the Ninetieth Panzer Grenadier Division, and his staff. The New Zealanders crossed the river Piave, and other troops are advancing rapidly beyond Treviso, according to a correspondent. Armoured columns thrusting beyond Milan seized a crossing over the river Ticino. The First Armoured Division has captured more than 12,000 prisoners in the past 24 hours. • -