ALLIED ADVANCES

Grey River Argus, 21 April 1945, Page 5

ALLIED ADVANCES

. Along Italian Front PORTS CAPTURED (Rec. 12.40) LONDON, April 20 Fifth Army troops, south-west ot Bologna advanced several thousand yards and captured Monte San Michele, and seized Monte Marie, overlooking Reno Valley, reports an Allied communique from Italy. An advance south of Bologna continues in the vicinity of Piannoro. Furtner progress was made on the west coast. Eighth Army troops, advancing north-west of Lake Commacmo, crossed the Bolognese Canal, captured Porto Maggiore,’ Porto Verrara, and Gaina Canal. The Allied bridgehead east of Bologna was enlarged. A correspondent in Italy stated: The Eighth Army is twelve miles from Ferrara on Route Sixteen, eight miles past Argenta New Zealanders on Quaderna Canal are asstride the Lugo-Bologna Road, nine miles east of Bologna. Fifth Army troops are at Pianoro, seven and a half miles south of Bologna. The Germans are fighting fanatically. To the west both the Eighth and Fifth Armies are into Bologna’s outer defences. The Germans have thrown almost all their available local reserves against British and American troops in a frantic effort to prevent a general break through into the Ro Valley. Eight Army troops have smashed clean through heavily fortified German positions guarding the approaches to Ferrara and Po River, and they are thus gaining control ot the enemy’s main escape routes, the Ravenna-Ferrara-Venice Road, states an Agency correspondent at Allied Headquarters in Italy, reporting the Argenta Gap operations. The Eighth Army is only 13 miles from Ferrara after piercing the Argenta Gap defences and capturing Boccaleone, about 15 miles south of Ferrara. With the back door to Bologna thus burst open the pitched battle for the city continues, with both the Eighth and Fifth Armies throwing in all tiaey have.

Troops south-west of the Argenta Gap hape reached the Guana Canal on an eight mile front. This has placed them 10 miles from Bologna. The capture of Monte Adone and Monte Frati took the Americans to within eight miles of Bologna. Monte Adone gives an observation post over a vast area of the enemy’s lines. The German resistance on the extreme coastal sector is stiffening, with considerable artillery fire. Reuter’s correspondent says that the battle for Bologna is increasing in fury as troops of both the Fifth and Eighth Armies converge on the city. The Americans who captured Monte Frati encountered pill boxes on the slopes of the mountain and used every weapon from hand grenades to close range artillery lire.

Spectacular advances are reported in the sector west of the PistojaBologna Road, but no details have yet been disclosed. An Allied communique stated: —■ The British Fifth Corps has driven the enemy from Argenta Gap. Fast moving columns pushed on and captured Consandiio-Benviganante and now threaten Portomaggiorre, 30 miles south-east of Ferrara. East of Bologna, New Zealand and Indian Army troops reached Quaaerna canal. The Fifth Army troops south of Bologna captured Monteposigliana and reached the outskirts of Pianoro. Further west, Montebaco and Montegiouvie were taken. In the Serchio Valley, the villages of Perpoli and Vergentoli were occupied. The Fifth Army won great success on the mountain approaches to the Po Valley, while the German from, in this area has been disrupted. American and South African troops are pursuing the retreating Germans, who are trying to. prevent full explanation of the initial Allied success. The South Africans, are looking down from Montebaco, which they took without. opposition, and others are sweeping on through some abandoned German defences.