SIENNA TAKEN

Grey River Argus, 5 July 1944, Page 5

SIENNA TAKEN

BY FRENCH TROOPS ( Enemy Retreat from Italy-.; Hinted ••• [Aus. & N.Z- Press Assn.l LONDON, July 3.' The important town of Siena hris been occupied by French troops of the sth. Army in Italy. r A German High Command communique states: “We voluntarily withdrew from Siena owing to the danger that the town’s most valuable cultural monuments might be detroyed.”’ ■ . 'I . Cecina, about 17 miles south oi Leghorn, has been taken by the American forces. “ A Reuter correspondent at advanced headquarters says that German opposition is becoming increasingly violent, with vicious counter-attacks occurring along the Fifth Army front. The Germans brought up reinforcements to assist the 26th. Panzer Division. The Germans are using self-pro-pelled guns, tanks and mines more extensively. A Reuter correspondent at Allied headquarters in Italy stated: Allied troops have broken through another of Marshal Kesselring’s defence -positions. Eighth Army troops surged forward into the Ciana Valley, taking a whole series of towns. General Alexander’s armies are driving forward in order to prevent the enemy settling down In a third delaying position, which ruiis through Arezzo, on a line-lateral to Germans on the eastern' (shores hi the Allied advance. The British spearhead which entered Fojano is about 16 miles from Arezzo, up the Ciana Canal. The Germans on the eastern shores pf Lake Trasimeno, who have been faced with a threat on their. flank, have started pulling back. Elements of ten German divisions have been identified on the Fifth Army front on the Tuscany coast, where the enemy opposition is increasingly violent. An Exchange Telegraph Agency correspondent in Rome stated: Eighth Army troops pushed on at least sixteen miles in a rapid advance west of Lake Trasimeno. After breakingthrough German defences west of the lake they are sweeping up a valley running north-west to Arezzo. Our tanks and armoured cars took the Germans completely bv surprise, preventing them demolishing three important bridges. The advance was so rapid that one brigade headquarters found itself in front of its own elements. Heavy artillery duels were fought in the Nocera area. “The Bth. Army’s captures north-west of Lake Trasimeno include the important, road junction of Gabbiano: ■ ' The Turkish official radio,. quotes reports received by the Trukish Government that Hitler has .ordered trie withdrawal of all German troops from Italy. It stated Marshal Kesselring has been ordered to leave only small forces to defend the mountain pass ( approaches to Southern France., arid Austria. On Hitler’s orders, the garrisons in Northern Italian towns are to be cut to minimum strength. Eacn garrison has. already been drawn on to reinforce the German armies aT- x tempting to stall the Allied offensive ip Italy. On Saturday, aircraft of the Mediterranean Air Force'curried out about 2,500 sorties. German supply;, lines, roads and bridges north of the battle area were attacked.

Strong forces of heavy bombers attacked oil installations and communications at the centre aerodrome in the Budapest area, and railway yards at Brodvinkovci. Tactical aircraft concentrated attacks against enemy supply lines, including roads, bridges, motor transport, and other targets-m Northern Italy, also north of the battle area. Fighter-bombers attacked enem-v communications in Yugoslavia, and shipping in the Adriatic. Fifty-seven ’planes were destroyed in these operations. Fifteen of our heavy bombers and eight other ’planes K are missing. Four of our heavy bombers are missing from night operations.

Strong forces of Americas heavy bombers now based in Italy, after shuttling from Russia, to-day attacked oil refineries and storage and transport facilities between Budapest and Ploesti, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters in Italy. The bombers also raided targets near Bucharest. ;( “Strategicus,” in “The Spectator,” says the Italian front holds interesting possibilities. It is very doubtful whether Kesselring will be able to reach the Pisa-Rimini line in sufficient strength in order to maintain the position against Alexander's attack for any appreciable time. That i prospect would seem less discouraging if the Germans wore able to make up the. very heavy losses which ■ their armies in Italy have sustained. But they are now losing everywhere at such a rate that reinforcement, unless there can be a drastic shortening of the front, is .ut of the question. ALLIED ADVANCE “ CONTINUED ALL ALONG THE. U FRONT. . rAust. & N.Z. Press Assn.l (R , eC 12.20) LONDON, July 4.’ Yesterday’s Allied communique from Italy stated: The momentum 'of the Allied armies’ advance has ! been maintained all along the front. Troops (driving forward north-wejst of Lake Trasimeno occupied Cortona and two other places. Leading elements are only eight miles south of Arezzo. A junction has been effected between troops nreviously divided by the lake. The heaviest fighting occurred o’n Monte Mqro and Monte Acuto, which overlook-- a valley running north of Umbertide. In the mountain area we occupied several places. We have repelled counter-attacks in the coastal sec-' tor about the line of the Musone River. ' -

Further progress was made after the French troops of the Fifth Army captured Sienna. The road leading to Arezzo was cut eight miles eastward'. A general advance was achieved between Sienna and the sea to a depth of several miles. -