FIFTH ARMY

Grey River Argus, 1 July 1944, Page 5

FIFTH ARMY

SEVEN MILES OFF SIENA

Eighth Army Takes Towns

LAus. & N.Z. Press Assn.l (Rec. 12.40. j LONDON, June 30. Friday morning’s communique from General Alexander’s Headquarters says: After a period in which tha enemy has been offering strenuous re sistance on his delaying positions botn east and west of Lake Trasimeno, Allied forces made a general advance west of the lake. Fifth Army troops moved rapidly forward on a broad front. They now are approaching Cecina, and are only ■ some seven miles south of Siena. The Eightn Army troops are still in difficult country. They made substantial gams, taking the town of Castiglione Del Lago, west of Lake Trasimeno. For many 1 days this town has been stubbornly defended by the enemy. They also captured Monte Pulciano. and a number of villages further west. Our medium bombers yesterday attacked a number of (toastal rail bridges between Spezia and the South, of France, also an ammunition dump near Spezia.

Medium and light bombers attacked railway yards in Ravenna and Cesena.. Fighter-bombers struck against railways, rolling stock, motor transport, bridges, grounded aircraft .and barrack areas in north Italy. Other fighter-bombers attacked an aerodrome and parked aircraft and motor transport in Yugoslavia. Three enemy ’planes were destroyed in these operations for the loss of three. Five of our ’planes' ar-e missing from operations on Thursdays night. Allied bombers on Thursday night attacked an aerodrome at Feurers Brunn. We flew approximatelyL4oo sorties.