GAINS IN ITALY

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 October 1944, Page 5

GAINS IN ITALY

ADVANCE ON BOLOGNA

LONDON, October 25.

American troops of the sth Army have captured Monte Belmonte, an important hill position about nine miles south of Bologna, and British troops on their right have taken another hill. The Exchange Telegraph Agency s correspondent says: Eighth Army troops covered the four miles from Cervina to the village of Savio without opposition and are now nine miles from Ravenna. Canadians reinforced and developed a briagenead north of Cesena. Tanks and infantry are now moving along the mam road to Forli against diminishing opposition, and progressed 2000 yards of the 12 miles separating Cesena from Forli. OFFICIAL SUMMARY. LONDON, October 25. To-day’s Allied communique from Italy states: American and British troops of the sth Army, despite the most determined resistance, made important gains. Americans captured Monte Belmonte, the scene of the bitterest fighting of the last few days, and held it against counter-at-tacks. Americans east of Monte Grande are engaged in determined fighting for a key feature about nye miles from the Bologna-Rimini highway. Fifth Army British troops on the Americans’ right flank captured the important height of Monte Spaduro and held it against several strong counter-attacks. . The Bth Army has now virtually overcome all enemy resistance on the east bank of the Savio River and has reached the village of Savio, near tne river mouth. A bridgehead m the Cesena area was considerably enlarged. Eighth Army infantry, supported by tanks, are advancing astride the main Bologna-Rimim road towards the Bevano River. Indians further progressed south ot Cesena. Poles in the Bidente Valley made further gains. NAVAL ACTIVITY RUGBY, October 25. On the night of October 20, light coastal craft operating in the Gulf of Genoa met three heavily-armed enemy vessels. Our craft attacked three times under heavy fire and illumination by star shells, but the results were inconclusive. At one period the enemy were seen firing on, each other.* A similar engagement took place the next nght in the same area. Later our craft attacked F lighters, southbound between Genoa and Speza. One F lighter was sunk. In the two actions our craft incurred superficial damage.