LIME BROKEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21606, 8 January 1945, Page 3

LIME BROKEN

GERMANS IN ITALY

CANADIAN DRIVE SAN ALBERTO TAKEN

OUTSTANDING SUCCESS (10 a.rn.) RUGBY, Jan. 7

The Eighth Army has broken the Goman line south of Lake Comacehio and reached the shore of the lake at San Alberto, nine miles north of Ravenna.

Allied Headquarters states that on the right of the Eighth Army the leading Canadian troops have reached the River Rengano and occupied San Alberto. Further south other troops of the Eighth Army eliminated all organised enemy resistance east of the demo River and south of Cotignola. three miles south-east of Luggo. On the Fifth Army front mere were sharp and extensive patrol clashes. Field Marshal Kesselring has reinforced his troops in the Valli di Comacchio lagoon area, reports the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent. He originally entrusted the defence of Comacchio to a Jaeger division, but in the attempt to halt the hard-hitting Canadians he brought up reserves from the 26th Panzer Grenadier division and also deployed the remnants of his personal bodyguard as a machme-gun battalion. The tactical air force spotted a large concentration of enemy armour near San Alberto.

Correspondents at Allied Headquarters in Italy describe the Canadians’ capture of San Alberto as the most outstanding success since the Allied forces’ entry into the Po Valley. It means that the Germans along the Adriatic coast, particularly at Porte Corsini, have likely been cut off from the inland supply routes.

Reuter's correspondent says that Canadians are exploiting their latest gains. Backed by British armour, they battered a path to the shores of Valli di Comacchio.

Canal Crossed In Strength

The Exchange and Telegraph Agency’s correspondent says it is the heaviest fighting which the Canadians have experienced since reaching the Hitler Line. Tank and infantry forces crossed the Bonifica canal in strength, surprising the Germans defending the southern shore of Valli di Comacchio and forcing them to withdraw from the San Alberto area westwards and eastwards without being able to make a stand in front of the town. The Canadians followed up and after completing the occupation of San Alberto drove eastward toward Mandriole, half-way to the coast, in pursuit of the routed enemy.

Tliis success was made possible by a great tank battle, begun on the night of January 3, when the Canadians beat oil’ an enemy force double their own strength, comprising elements of three crack German divisions. The enemy attacked slightly south of Conventilly, five miles east of Alio,sine, where he thought the Cana* dian front was weakest, thus hoping to split the Canadian front. Canadian tanks, assisted by a British rifle brigade, rolled forward and a bitter battle began. Many hours later, when the smoke and dust settled, the area was found strewn with dead Germans and wrecked tanks. More than 500 Germans were killed, wounded or taken prisoner in one sector alone. The Allied forces were then able to consolidate their positions east of the Fossi Vechio, which at this point flows parallel 1000 yards east of the Senio River. The Boniflea Canal was then crossed in two places. The threat to San Alberto developed from two directions. The Germans, who were thrown into complete confusion by the bitter defeat, could not face another battle and cleared out before it was too late. The desert air force is helping the pursuing Canadians, strafing the retreating Germans and causing them severe casualties.