ARGENTA CAPTURED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 119, 19 April 1945, Page 5

ARGENTA CAPTURED

EIGHTH ARMY'S DRIVE

CLOSER TO PO RIVER

LONDON,' April "IS. Argenta, the big German supply base near the edge ,of Lake di Comaeehio, and east-north-east ot Bologna lias been surrounded and captured by the Eighth Army, which is now within 20 miles of the Po River;

New Zealand, Polish and Indian troops have edged closer to Bologna which is now under the fire of longrange artillery. The nearest troops are the Poles, 10 miles away. Spitfires strafing ahead of the Allied artillery barrage on the Eighth Army front in Italy today reported all types of transport rapidly moving back from the battlefront, says a Press Association message. Motor-vehicles, troopcarriers, ammunition carts, motorcycles, tanks and guns were seen in columns.

The New Zealanders, maintaining the momentum of their drive on the central sector, have surmounted more water obstacles and advanced nearly three miles to reach the Gaiano Canal on a two-mile front, said an earlier message. The Germans are defending from scores of caves, tunnels and pillboxes along the roads. "Eighth Army troops west of Lake Comaeehio continue to make good progress through the flooded marshes," reports an Allied communique from Italv. "The New Zealanders and Indians farther westward have reached the Gaiano Canal line.. The Poles advancing along the main highway are under 10 miles south-cast of Bologna. "Fifth Army troops, fighting in the rugged terrain 12 miles south-west of Bologna, have captured the important heights of Monte Moscoco and Monte Davigno and have progressed astride the Bologna-Florence highway through formidable enemy defences."