CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 September 1944, Page 5

CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

GERMANS DEFEND RIDGES

LONDON, September 10

The Bth Army in Italy is still engaged in heavy fighting on the Ardriatic sector near the coastal town of Rimini. The enemy, who holds the heights of Coriano and Saviano, counter-attacked, but was driven back. A few miles inland British infantry haVe captured the village of Germano, on the south bank of the Conca River. In the area of Croce, which is still in Allied hands, the enemy launched a strong counter-at-tack with tanks and infantry. Fighting is still going on. Indian troops of the Bth Army have taken more high ground between the upper Tiber and the Arno. On the western sector sth Army patrols have been very active. A correspondent at Allied Headquarters says that patrols have entered Pistoia.

An earlier communique from Allied Headquarters said that heavy fighting on the Adriatic sector continued. The Bth Army had repulsed a further series of counter-attacks without loss of ground. The village of Croce, centre of much recent fighting, was now in Allied hands. Progress continued in mountainous country to the left of this sector. Near Florence the British have made important advances into high ground north of the city. Two key features, Monte Senario and Monte Morello, which overlook Florence, have been occupied. West of Florence patrols of the sth Army continue to make progress. Lucca is firmly in Allied hands. ' “In spite of its promising start, the Bth Army’s break through the eastern end of the Gothic Line apparently has misfired.” says Reuter’s Rome correspondent. “The Germans managed to reinforce the whole Adriatic sector strongly, and Allied progress has been slowed down. The Germans’ tenacious defence of tljeir new positions on the Coriano and Saviano ridges, which are proving tougher than the original Gothic Line, continued on Friday with heavy mortar and shell fire during violent rain and thunderstorms. Casualties are piling uu on both sides in this bitter battle for the Adriatic corridor, compared with which the Gothic Line battle is merely a curtain-raiser.