ITALIAN FRONTS

Grey River Argus, 22 June 1944, Page 3

ITALIAN FRONTS

EIGHTH ARMY’S ADVANCE

Rain Restricts Movements

(Rec. 11.25.) LONDON, June 21. To-day’s Allied communique from Italy says: Extremely heavy rain again limited the movement ol Allied armies on the roads. Resistance at Perugia has been overcome, and Eighth Army troops continued the advance three to four miles northward of the town. Our troops on the east coast advanced, our patrols reaenmg the River Mcnocchio. The situation on the Fifth Army front is unchanged, except for minor tactical gains. t The Tactical Air Force yesterday attacked road and railway bridges, communications, motor transport ano other objectives north of the battle area and in Central Italy.-Fighter-bombers struck against an enemy aircraft-carrier in the harbour at Genoa, shipping on the west coast of Italy, and targets in Albania. Light bombers attacked shipping m the North Adriatic. There were no heavy bomber operations. None of our ’planes are missing. The Mediterranean Air Force flew approximately 750 sorties. EIGHTH ARMY'S CAPTURES. (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, June 21. Algiers Radio reports that the Eighth Army captured Crottamara, forty miles from Pescara, also San Bebedetto Deltronto. Advanced elements of the Eighth Army reached’ Ascolipiceno. Other Eighth Army forward troops are now five miles north-east of Perugia. North-west of the town an Eighth Army force occupied high ground, including Monte Malve. Further to the west. Eighth Army forces are astride Highway Seventy-one, north-east of Lake Chiusi. The town of Chius! was cleared of the enemy. The Germans on the main Fifth Armv front have thrown in seven divisions in an attempt to check the Allied advance. The Americans on this front captured Monte Pescali, dominating the junction of highways Seventy-one and Seventy-three. The enemy aircraft carrier which was attacked in Genoa Harbour was a 20,000 tonner. Pilots report that the carrier was severely damaged. LEFTISTS FORM ARMY 58,000 RECRUITS CLAIMED LONDON, June 20. The Associated Press Rome correspondent says that a Leftist military organisation Armaia Rossa (Red Army) has been formed in Rome and has asked the Allied commands for permission to fight against the Germans in Italy. The organisation claims 58,000 recruits. The headquarters of Armaia Rossa states that the Army has been former! because the King and Badoglio have failed to create an effective fighting force. 27,000 PRISONERS TAKEN LONDON, Jdne 20. The Algiers radio announced that since the opening of the offensive in Italy the Fifth and Eighth Armies had taken 27,000 prisoners. PRTTISH SOLDIERS CHEER POPE. -'Rec. 5.5.) LONDON, June 20. "Four thousand British soldiers, mostly Roman Catholics, cheered the Pope when he reviewed them at the Vatican. His Holiness, addressing the men, said: “It is a real joy for us to welcome vou all here. Our paternal heart has at times been almost overwhelmed by the sorrows of our children. You are of those children, and we have craved for' you. We bless you all and all your dear ones at home ” CAMPAIGN AT ELBA LONDON, June 20. The British United Press correspondent, cabling- from Napoleon’s villa, says: With white flags flying from German positions at Elba, the total Allied occupation was completed after a 60 hours’ whirlwind attack. French Goums and Senegalese swept in to the last attack, and the German garrison surrendered. There were few sighs in Portoferrajo of the town’s 6000 inhabitants. Most streets leading to the old town where Napoleon. had an official residence, were piled high with rubble. The people had either fled or had been evacuated to the surrounding countryside. Napoleon’s summer villa was untouched by the fighting. It is estimated there were at least three German “fortress battalions on the island. Thirty-two gun-sites were found with a total of over 100 heavy and medium guns. There were no first-line troops. The prisoners

seemed terrified of both the Goums and Senegalese, just as they were on the Italian mainland. One German sergeant was so frightened when brought in he could hardly stand, even when alone with a British colonel.

An Allied commanding officer reviewing the fighting said: The German garrison was very strong; and well organised, but my trooos in the first action fought with tremendous spirit and speed. Our losses were rather severe because we had a very hara fight on the beaches. We fought the first day almost without artillery support, because the artillery was late in landing, yet when the artillery landed, we already held the western half of the island.

Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says that General Delattre de Tassigny, Commander of the Allied troops who captured Elba, reported to General de Gaulle that the capture of Elba was completed. General de Tassigny said: “Our troops, supported by - British and French naval forces and French and American air forces smashed the powerful defence system. The island was garrisoned by a large contingent. The garrison has been annihilated. Eighteen hundred were taken prisoner, including 35 officers. Over 500 bodies were counted on the battlefield. We captured considerable material. I am profoundly happy th’s success should have coincided with the historic anniversary. June 18. (The anniversary of de Gaulle’s appeal in 1940 to the French patriots for resistance). Alba will be administered by an Allied-con trolled commission.