AMERICANS NOW IN SIGHT Of ROME

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 128, 2 June 1944, Page 5

AMERICANS NOW IN SIGHT Of ROME

frosinone and Sora Close Vital Escape Routes Germans Preparing For Another Withdrawal United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright* deceived Friday, 1 a.m. LONDON, June 1. The Americans from their newly-captured heights got their first glimpse of Borne—a hazy mass of buildings in the distance from the midst of which the dome of St. Peter’s was just barely visible. The Eighth Army has captured Frosinone and Sora. With the capture of these places, says Reuter’s at Advanced Headquarters, von Kesselring has lost two vital escape routes. His troops are now caught between the Fifth Army’s left wing and the advancing Eighth Army and now have only tracks over which to get away. The Fifth Army forces advanced 3000 yards, have gained a foothold on the slopes of the Alban Hills northwest of Velletri and have consolidated their dominating positions in this area. They have also captured high ground in the vicinity of Lake Nemi. British infantry entering Frosinone outran their own tank support and were held up by German armour. They obtained help from a flank formation and then quickly counterattacked, knocking out three German tanks. Allied armour on the beachhead front has crossed into the Campoleone dykes three miles west of Lanuvio where steady pressure is being maintained. The French are maintaining closf contact with the Germans retreating in the Valmontone-Avezzano area where it is considered von Kesselring will almost certainly make a defensive stand. The Americans have thrown a pincers around Velletri by occupying the high ground northeast and northwest of this vital defence line town. The Vichy radio quotes a Berlin military spokesman as saying that the German staff in Italy is considering the possibility of further withdrawals when all the German troops inside the VelletriValmontone defensive positions are withdrawn.

Tflo Allies nave driven tneir first wedges deep into the ValmontoneVeuetri line widen von Kesselring 13 desperately striving to Keep iroin buckling. The Germans are frantically reiniorcing on the i'iitn Army’s right flan* in an effort to keep Highway fciix open. Von Kesselring has thrown in a considerable concentration of light artillery east of Lanuvio consisting chiefly of self-propelled guns. The Allies, despite the stuhoom resistance and the hampering terrain, are thrusting sharply into the enemy’s defence belt.

Sora was captured by the New Zealanders.

“The Fifth Army made limited but important gains against continued strong enemy opposition from elaborately prepared positions between Vai montone and the sea," states to-day’s Allied communique from Italy. “Eighth Army troops continued to advance westward along Highway Six and captured Frosinone. Sora was also captured.

“A United States destroyer yester day carried out a further successful bombardment of enemy positions in the Ardfa sector, while another American destroyer effectively bombarded enemy strongpoints, batteries and troops in the beach area.

“Tactical aircraft of all types yesterday attacked objectives in the battle area. Medium bombers attacked troop concentrations, highways and objectives in towns and light bombers attacked bivouac areas, roads, bridges, motor transport and troops, also rail way lines in Central Italy and harbour installations, troop concentrations aud communications in Yugoslavia. Medium forces of heavy bombers attacked targets in the Ploesti area and Turnu Severin. Forty-three enemy planes were destroyed on these operations. Fourteen of our heavy bombers and nine other planes are missing. One enemy plane was sighted in daylight over the battle area. We flew approximately 2800 sorties.

The Germans are rushing from Borne Mark 4 tanks and self-propelled antitank guns in an effort to hold the little town. It looks as if this is a struggle to the death.

“The German withdrawals in Italy lose all their importance if studied within the framework of all the Euro pean battlefronts,’’ says the Berlin military spokesman. “The Germans have withdrawn to new positions in four sectors —Sacoo, the Upper Liri and Liri Valleys, and the Upper Sangro. German troops are holding their positions in the coastal sector on the extreme west and are also successfully defending against the Allied onrush on Velletri and Valmontone. All German reports from the front stress that the Allies are using enormous forces of planes which from dawn to dusk are continuously over the German positions.