PROGRESS IN ITALY

Grey River Argus, 4 July 1944, Page 5

PROGRESS IN ITALY

Both Armies Advance

HARDER FIGHTING IN THE WEST (Rec. 12.51.) LONDON, July 3. Allied armies have now dislodgea enemy forces from their delaying positions east and west of Lake iressimeno, says Monday’s communique from General Alexander’s Headquarters. Eighth Army troops made a rapid advance west of the lake ana occupied Sinalunca and Fojano, ana on Highway Seventy-one are four miles south of Cortona. Further progress was made east of tne lake, which recently was the scene of most bitter fighting. Our leading elements reached Monte Gugliotto, south oi Umbertide. We occupied Nocera. Our troops in the Adriatic sectcor moved across the Muson River, which runs into the Adriatic at Loreto. They occupied Loreto and Osimo. The Fifth Army troops are now encountering very considerable resistance, particularly in the coastal sector whese the heaviest fighting since that at Rome has occurred. They have advanced all along their from, and occupied a number of places. LONDON, July 2.

On Saturday night, Americans captured Cecina after one of the stiffest battles the Fifth Army have fought since the occupation of Rome. They found Cecina heavily mined and there were many booby traps. The infantrymen had to force the enemy from the town, house by house. Other Fifth Army units while this battle was progressing by-passed the town as reported in the communique. The capture of Cecina clears the coastal road behind these troops, who are now considerably nearer Leghorn.

Algiers radio stated French troops are within four miles of Siena, the fall of which is imminent. Eightn Army troops have reached Loreto, five miles north-east of Recanatai, and about eight miles north of the Potenza River.

Allied naval units, on the night of June 27, went ashore south of the Albanian port of Valona and demolished an enemy look-out station and took some German prisoners. Light naval forces prepared the way.