MEZZANO TAKEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21582, 8 December 1944, Page 5

MEZZANO TAKEN

BTH ARMY THRUST THE LAMONE FIGHT

BRIDGEHEAD ENLARGED (11 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 7. "Eighth Army troops in the coastal sector captured Mezzano, on the Rimini-Ferrar railway. Consequently all. enemy resistance east of the Lamonc River lias virtually ceased, states an Allied communique. * The British south of Faenza, despite strong resistance, increased the bridgehead over the Lamonc. The Poles on the left, after bitter fighting, captured the important feature of Monte San Rinaldo and occupied the town of Brisighella, seven miles south-west of Faenza. “British and Indian Fifth Army troops maintained contact with the enemy by aggressive patrolling and in places our forward positions were improved.” , As a result of the continuous advance by the Eighth Army the German position at Faenza is becoming precarious. Hill positions south-wes of Faenza have been taken and the Allies now hold a 20-mile line acros' the plain to the north-east.. A Mediterranean communique states: “Medium forces of heavy bombers on Wednesday attackee railway yards in Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Otheheavy and medium bombers flev supply missions to Yugoslavia. “Fighters of the Mediterranean Ar Force carried out sweeps over Austria and Hungary, rolling -oV and motor transport. “Although the operations by the T 'ic‘ical Air Force were restricted b 1 weather,. fighter-bombers attacked -memv nositions in the battle areas in northern Italv and communications o the Po Valley. Many railway cuts were effected and motor transport and locomotives and cars destroyed “The Balkan Air Force artsd" i- oad movements and concentrations 'n Yugoslavia. Coastal planes attacked small shipping in thr Adriatic. ~ , „ . , “On Wednesday night _ ‘heavies attacked railways and industria plants in Austria. Thirteen enemy aircraft were destroyed. Nineteen o ours are missing. The Allies flew over 1500 sorties.” North-West From Ravenna The Eighth Army troops are continuing to push north-west after the capture of Ravenna and have reached the Lamone River at Mezzano, six miles north-west of the city on Route 16, where they at first succeeded in crossing the river, but were driven back to the east bank by tanks. The Lamone River in this area is 45ft. wide and 6ft. deep, with banks 50ft. high. Other troops who are pushing north-west of Ravenna have reached the canal. This was an advance of about, two and a half miles. The enemy’s withdrawal is disorganised, but our troops are handicapped by dense fog. A big attack was launched across the railway north of Russi, aboul nine miles north-east of Faenza, and later our forces squared up to the Lamone River on both sides of the Russi-Bagnacavallo railway. The initial attempt to cross the river was prevented by heavy shell and machine-gun fire. Faenza is being endangered by our two punches in the north and south. The enemy hat suffered heavy losses in the present fighting, although the air force could not give close support to our troops owing to bad weather. About 100 prisoners were taken. The loss of Ravenna .is a serious biovz to the German supply and a great gain to us, as this inland port is connected with the Adriatic by six miles of canal. The enemy now has :.o rely on damaged railway and road communications to supply the forces trying to hold off our advance.