AREA REGAINED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21601, 2 January 1945, Page 6

AREA REGAINED

SERCHIO VALLEY NAZIS GIVE UP BARGA POCKETS ON THE SENIO GO a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 1. In the Serchio River Valley, where the German counter-attacks last week forced some Allied withdrawals. Fifth Army troops have re-occupied Barga. The Exchange and Telegraph's Rome correspondent says that there Was no further attempt by the enemy to’ renew his offensive on the Fifth Army front. The recapture of Barga means that we have regained most of the' ground the Germans captured. Our forward elements have advanced beyond Barga and are now operating in the hills to the north and west of the town.

Snow is again falling on this front, and visibility is reduced to a minimum. The Germans on the Eighth Army front unsuccessfully attempted to cross the Senio River south-west of Alfosine. Allied tanks on this front are now operating after the heavy Christmas snowfall.

Reuter’s Rome correspondent reports that the British north of Faenza are fighting a house-to-house battle to reduce the Germans’ last remaining pocket east of the Senio River. The Germans have brought in considerable artillery strength to support their tank-equipped rearguards holding the last remaining positions on the cast bank of the Senio while they erect new defences on the west bank.

Fifth Army troops in the Serchio Valley have gained further ground and re-occupied Sommocolonia, reports an Allied Headquarters communique from Italy. Eighth Army forces north of Faenza have continued to exert pressure, and have captured several inhabited localities against strong resistance.