CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1944, Page 6

CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

WEATHER IMPROVES

Some Progress Made

(Rec. 11.40) LONDON, June 22. To-day’s Allied communique from Italy states: Although the weather has improved, mud prevented largescale cross-country movement. Advanced elements in the Adriatic sector reached Fermo. Eighth Army troops north-east .of Foligno are now approaching Camerino and Noceraumbra. Limited gains against strong resistance were made north of Perugia and in the vicinity of Lake Trasimeno. Fifth Army troops are now fifteen miles north of Grosseto. Medium bombers yesterday attacked railway bridges in North Italy, a road bridge on the west coast, ana shipping in Leghorn Harbour. Light bombers attacked an ammunition dump. Fighter-bombers struck a’gainst Novilitiute airfield, also railways, roads, bridges, rolling stock, and motor transport in an near the battle area. Heavy bombers did not operate. , n . Medium and heavy bombers last night attacked railyards at Ventimiglia. None of ours were lost. We flew more than eleven hundred sortleSLight naval forces on Sunday night during operations for the capture £>l Elba, torpedoed and destroyed an enemy lighter near the island. An escorting E-boat fled at high speed. A spirited engagement went on on Monday night off north-east Elba, when our light coastal forces sighted five lighters, also an escorting E-boat, proceeding to Elba to evacuate tioops. Our craft allowed the lighters to load up' and engaged them with guns and torpedoes. Three lighters were torpedoed and a fourth possibly sunk. Others were bit. The E-boat fledThe evacuation force was engaged by gunfire. The action lasted one and a-half hours. The enemy retaliated with gunfire, but our forces were neither damaged nor suffered casualties. GERMANS’ DELAYING ACTION. (Rec. 12.50 a.m. l ) LONDON, June 22. The “Exchange Telegraph” Algiers correspondent says: The German withdrawal in Italy is attaining amazing speed. Eighth Army troops who are nearing Camerino and Noceroumbra cleared the town of Chiugliana'. Another Allied column captured a point three miles from Magione. Eighth Army troops who entered Feermo report that the enemy is developing a major delaying action on a scale more organised than hitherto. The Germans have been quick to take advantage of the respite caused by the rain and have brought up more artillery and increased mortar fire.

Despite swollen rivers, demolitions, ‘and increased enemy artillery fire, the Eighth Army fanned out from Perugia to both sodes of Lake Trasimeno, capturing several towns and villages including Castigione Dellago. The 'Germans during the night infiltrated the town of Chiusi. where sharp fighting went on. Fifth Armv Americans occupied Paganico and continued the advance. It is officially revealed that Italian troops are participating in fighting in some of the most difficult Adriatic territory. GERMANS FROM WESTERN FRONT RUGBY, June 21. On the Fifth Army front in Italy, nrisoners have been taken from the Nineteenth Luftwaffe Division which, according to the Germans, left Belgium on June 10. This is the second division to come to Italy from the western front, the Twentieth Luftwaffe Division having previously arrived from Denmark. Prisoners have also been taken from the Sixteenth S.S. Division which came from the Balkans. ATTEMPT TO HALT FIFTH ARMY LONDON. June 21. The fresh units identified in Italy from Belgium and the Balkans are among the elements which Kesselring is mustering" north of Grosseto in an attempt to halt the Fifth Army’s sweep to Pisa. The Germans are desperately trying to hold General Clark’s forces in the hills north of Grosseto and are trying to delay their advance with anti-tank guns, self-propelled guns and road blocks. Costly losses to the Germans through the use of horse-drawn .artillery are part of the price Kesselring is paying for delaying the withdrawal too long The Americans, when they captured Monte Pescali, took .nine horse-drawn 150 m.m. guns and 50 horses.

Tito’s Communique

PARTISANS OCCUPY MORE TOWNS RUGBY, June 21.

Marshal Tito’s communique says: The towns of Goca, Cajinee and Hum in western Bosnia, have been occupies bv Yugoslav troops. The enemy suffered heavy losses and the partisans are maintaining the offensive. Fighting continues along the line Majevica. Srebrenica .and the Drina River. In western Bosnia, fighting is particularly heavy in the LivnoSupica sector. Heavy losses were

battle at Prozor. / On the Ximae-Petrovo pelo high road, two German motorised columns were attacked. One tank/and several other vehicles were destroyed. In Hersegovina, enemy attacks from the direction of Nevesipj were repelled. In Sandjak, the enemy, with very strong forces and the support of ‘p’reraft, is attacking partisan positions. Heavy fighting is raging in the Prijedor sector. In Croatia, fighting is particularly heavy at Korenica, in L’ka Province. In northern Dalmatia, the enemy is concentrating troops for a fresh offensive,