ADVANCE IN ITALY

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1944, Page 6

ADVANCE IN ITALY

POPOLI JUNCTION CAPTURED

GERMAN REARGUARD-ACTIONS

LONDON, June 13.

“Our troops in the Adriatic sector have made further progress and have crossed the Saline River in some places,” said to-day’s Allied communique from Allied Headquarters in Italy. “The Saline River runs into the Adriatic five miles northwest of Pescara. The Allies have occupied the important road junction of Popoli. The enemy continues to resist south of Terni, but some prohas been made against increasing resistance east and west of Lake Bolsano. Heavy fighting is occurring round Bagnoregiq, and the enemy continues to resist on the coast road south-east of Orbetello. Kesselring’s rearguards are making a stand in the hills .75 miles north ol Rome to permit the disorganised Fourteenth Army to escape northward, says Reuter's correspondent in a despatch from advanced headquarters in Italy. The Allied advance up the Italian peninsula is moving rapidly on both sides of Lake Bolsena, and also over the Appinines and along the Adriatic. The Eighth Army is moving to high ground across the main RomcPescaia road, and is now just southeast of Carsoli. The Adriatic advance Minister (Mr. Church■'ll) has sent a message to General Maitland Wilson, expressing his appreciation of the successes m Italy.

N.Z.’ERS AND S. AFRICANS

[Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.IM

ADVANCED HEADQUARTERS, June 12. In the mountainous central sector of the Italian front, New Zealand troops have taken Avezzano, which I patrols entered yesterday, together with the whole adjacent area Avezvnno has a population of 21,000, and A noted, in addition as a highway junction, for a vast model farm area of 45,000 acres comprising a drained bed of a once shallow lake. The New Zealanders have advanced between 50 and 60 miles in little rnoie than two weeks. The information is now released that their old Rugby rivals, the 6th South African Armoured Division has taken a prominent part in the lighting in the Liri and Sacco Valleys chstinguishing itself in heavy fwhtiiw around Genazzno. On the of Rome this division passed through the sth Army and took up the chase, capturing Civita Castellana. Two days ago, the division fought a very successful battle with the enemy north of Viterbo, destroying a number of tanks and sell-pro-pelled guns, and killing more than 200 Germans. GENERAL CLARK’S TRIBUTE.

(Rec. 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, June 13. “The sth Army has broken the German armies opposing it in Itmy. It is no wonder they are in tun flight,” said. General Mark Clark, welcoming British, French and American troops of the sth Army to a spacious rest centre on the ,°ut~ skirts of Rome, states the Associated Press Rome correspondent General Clark added: You are the men who captured Rome—l want to congratulate you from the bottom oi :nv heart. , •,!>•„□ Reuter’s correspondent at Anted Headquarters reports that sth Army troops have occupied two regions on the west shore of Lake Bolsena and, with the South Africans. • advancing up the east shore, the lake is now almost encircled. South African armour -just north-east of Lake Bolsena driving towards Orvieto had to light fiercely to batter its way through Bagndregio, six miles south of Orvieto. Behind the Americans driving up the west coast a naval party is already established at Civitavecchia, dealing with the extensive damage left by the Germans. AERIAL OPERATIONS. LONDON, June 13. “Tactical aircraft yesterday attacked railway lines, roads, bridges, motor transport, gun positions, and other targets in the battle area north of Rome and in Central Italy. Fight-er-bombers struck against icommunications and shipping m the Korcula harbour area on the coast of Jugoslavia. _ There were no heavy bomber operations. Four of our aircraft are missing. Our bombers last night also attacked objectives in Hungary. The Mediterranean AnForce flew approximately 1100 sorties.”

KING TO BE TRIED?

(Rec. 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 13. • The trial of King Victor Emmanuel and Crown Prince Umberto, for alleged conspiracy with the Fascists is believed to have been discussed by the new Italian Government. Wee-Premier Tupini said to-day “My principal task is to remove Fascism, and to bring to judgment all who were accomplices of the Fascists, and who share the responsibility for having brought Italy into a ruinous war. Even the highest in the land will face judgment before the Bar . of the Italian people.” Posters appeared on the walls in liberated Italy, recalling the proFascist pro-Mussolini statements by members of the Italian Royal Family. THANKSGIVING MASS.

LONDON, June 11. Nearly 10,000 Allied troops, British, American, and French, .attended the sth Army’s thanksgiving Mass in the Church of Santa Maria Degli Angeli, Rome, on Sunday morning, writes a correspondent. Lieutenant-General Mark Clark and American, British, and French staff officers were present, as well as members oi the diplomatic corps attached to the Vatican.

FRENCH GENERAL KNIGHTED

WELLINGTON, June 14. A communique from the French Official Bureau of Information at Algiers states that in the neighbourhood of Rome General Alphonse Juin, in command of French forces in Italy, has been awarded the K.C.B. General Alexander, Commander-in-Chiet or the Allied Forces in Italy, who awarded the decoration, officially informed General Juin that he would receive it from the hands of His Majesty the King when he had the good fortune to go to London. JUGOSLAV PARTISANS RUGBY, June 13. During the last few d'ays, the Allied Air Force has been particularly active in various regions of Jugoslavia, and has destroyed over 70 wagons, carrying jammunition and fuel, says Tito’s communique. Allied planes also sunk several vessels off the Adriatic coast. The Partisans are successfully mopping up captured positions, and attacking enemy communications. Major Randolph Churchill, M.P., gave an. interview to the Free Croat newspaper, “Naprijed” (Forward), before leaving Jugoslavia for Italy, states the Jugoslav free radio. He said that the Jugoslav Partisans were better organised than he expected. The Jugoslav Army, under Tito, had acomplished such feats that to-day it enjoyed a high standard of admiration in Britain and the United States.

Everywhere he went in Jugoslavia he saw destruction by the Germans, but he also saw a high fighting spirit and great enthusiasm Tor the cause of the Allies in the ranks of the Jugoslavs.! Tiio was not only a great military! leader; he was also a great statesman. | He had rallied to the Partisan move- i ment the most divergent elements of all nationalities and religions.' Jugoslavia might well! serve as a model to other countries in Europe for their reconstruction.