DRIVE NORTH IN ITALY

Grey River Argus, 21 June 1944, Page 3

DRIVE NORTH IN ITALY

. FURTHER ALLIED GAINS

AH Armies Successful

' I Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.l (Rec. 1.20.) LONDON, June 20. To-day’s Allied communique from Italy’ says: Heavy rains interfered with the movement of the Allied armies in Italy, but despite this ami heavy demolitions, troops in the Adriatic sector crossed the Tronto River Eighth Army forces whion had closed in on Perugia, eighty-five miles north of Rome, have now entered the town, although sporadic resistance continues. They advanced some distance on either side of the town.

Our troops further westwards have now advanced to the southern shores of Lake Trasimcno and Lake Dichuisi. The Fifth Army has advanced to north of Grosseto.and Monte Amiata, 'eight miles west of Radicofani. Lake Trasimeno is the lake on which Castiglione stands. Lake Dichuisi is near the town of Chius.

Although baa weather restricted operations yesterday fighter-bombers were active against targets in and around the battle area. They attacked gun (positions, rail lines, rolling stock, and railyards in the sector at Sestrai Levante, also shipping off Leghorn. Fighters maintained battle line patrols. Two enemy planes were destroyed during the day. None of ours are missing. The Mediterranean Air Force' flew more than two-hundred sorties. WITHDRAWAL AT PERUGIA. .. GERMANS CLAIM THRUST .. STOPPED. LONDON, June 19. The German News Agency’s commentator, Praegnei’ says that the Germans have withdrawn the lines north of Perugia in order to evade a British tank attack. Perugia is the important road and rail centre in the Apennines on the highway from Rome to Florence. Praegner claimed that the Germans subsequently stopped the British thrust after close range fighting north of the town. “Bitter fighting on a large scale throughout the day preceded the German withdrawal. The German Command had to make rapid use of the available reserves to prevent the British breaking through and interfering with the orderly execution of the German moves.’’ The Algiers radio reported that British troops had entered the southern suburbs of Perugia, and added that the Fifth Army continued to advance against stiffening resistance. The French forces advanced to Radicofani. General Marshall arrived in Italy by air and conferred with several Allied commanders. BASTIA FALLS TO EIGHTH ARMY. 8.0.W. RUGBY, June 19. According to a correspondent at Allied Headquarters. Bastia, between Perugia and Assisi, Central Italy, has been occupied by the Eighth Army. It was here that the enemy launched a strong counter-attack which was repulsed, a bridgehead being established across the River Chiascio. Driving towards Perugia, from the south, armoured units took Teruta, and passed on five miles to San 'Martino Delpico. A large number of prisoners continue to come in, and it is considered that the enemy is suffering a proportionate number of killed. The town of Piegaro on the road junction, nineteen miles south-west of Perugia, has- been cleared of the enemy. SUNDAY’S'AIR ACTIVITY, LONDON, June 19. Fighter-bombers vesterday attacked communications in Southern France, and shipping, motor transport, rail lines, roads and other objectives on the west coast of ItaN. Also in Elba', heavv bombers struck at roads.. motor transport north of the battle area, and shipping communications with Yugoslavia. Other operations were cancelled because of generally unfavourable weather. One enemy plane was destroyed during operations yesterday. All ours returned. The Mediterranean Air Force flew over 300 sorties. Germans’ Difficulties ALLIES MAY REACH PO VALLEY (Rec. 10.40) ' LONDON, June 20. The opinion is expressed by the “Daily Telegraph’s’’ military- correspondent, Lieut. General Martin, that unless the German High Command is prepared to send fairly heavy reinforcements to Italy the Aillies will very quickly' force the Gothic Line from Pisa to Aimini and Debouch into the Po Valley. Since the start of the battle of the Gustav Line, the Germans have reinforced their Tenth and Fourteenth Armies at various times with eight divisions from the north. There is now probably only one division left in the whole of northern Italy. The remainder, perhaps twenty-four in all, are involved in a prolonged retreat. . ~ The line of the Po River would be a quite impossible defensive position if the Gothic Line is pierced, says Lieut. Martin. Almost inevitably the Germans would have to solit their armies—the Fourteenth retiring on the Alina Passes, which lead from Piedmont to France, and the Tenth towards Brenner Pass.

Fighting on Elba

WHOLE OF ISLAND OCCUPIED. LONDON, June 19. Algiers radio stated that French forces had occupied the whole of the Island of Elba. ORGANISED RESISTANCE ENDS. most of garrison captured. (Rec. 8.20.) "LONDON, June 19. A special communique from Allied Headquarters in North Africa says that operations in Elba successfully concluded at noon to-day, when all organised resistance ceased. The rapid advance of the French troops prevented the evacuation of all but a small number of the enemy garrison. Eigheen hundred were captured, also a large quantity of abandoned material. GERMAN LOSSES PROBABLY 3,000 (Rec. 1.10.) LONDON, June 20. The British United Press says that German losses on Elba probably total three thousand. The Allies are now mopping up the last few stragglers and snipers left on the island. GERMAN PRISONERS TAKEN. LONDON, June 19. A special communique from advanced headquarters at Italy reports that French troops in Elba yesterday further substantially progressed, de-

spite determined German resistance, and now hold the greater part of the island. Portoferrajo was captured, and several hundred prisoners, including a number of German officers, were captured. Tito’s Communique FURTHER SUCCESSES REPORTED. RUGBY, June 19. Marshal Tito’s communique states: Eight thousand Germans, Chetniks and Ustatchi were killed in the seventh German offensive in Western Bosnia between May 25 and June 10. As the result of the complete failure of this offensive the Croat Provinces Kordun and Banija have been completely cleared of enemy troops. Among war material captured or destroyed were ’sixteen hundred rifles, nineteen trench mortars, three planes, twenty-one tanks, sixteen guns, forty machine-guns, seventv lorries, nineteen railway trains, and 157 waggons, with ammunition and' war material. In Eastern Bosnia, the enemy has lost fifteen hundred men in fighting in the Majevica Mountains. In the area the Sogkovac aerodrome, several planes were destroyed and thousands of gallons of petrol went up' in flames.

Rescued by Allies A DALMATIAN FROM N.Z.

(NZ.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, June 19.

Among the people rescued by the Allies from the Germans is a New Zealander, Peter Anich, who had returned to his native land with his wife and son aged two years in 1938. Anich had emigrated from Dalmatia at the turn of the last century, when he was fifteen years old, and he became a naturalised New Zealander. He finally settled at Matamata, where he conducted a general store. When the Nazis spread over Europe he decided 4o retu'in to the country of nis birth and play a part in the struggle. He settled on an island off the Yugoslav coast, buying a share in a butchery business, and in the next five years he built up a supply centre for the forces in the revolt against the Germans.

When the Nazis threatened the island Anich and his family departed with the approval .of the local .partisan commander, and now they are in Italy, from where he hopes to proceed back to New .Zealand. “Cue”’ A MAGAZINE FOR THE FORCES. (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, June 19. Compiled by the headquarters of the New Zealand and Rehabilitation Service “Cue,” is the first of a series of fortnightly publications shortly to make their appearance throughout units of the Second N.Z.E.F. Ihe purpose of the.magazine is to provide data and information for the New Zealand troops, and the first issue of “Cue” contains articles on Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Education and Rehabilitation Service, New Zealand stabilisation policy, etc.