Tough Fighting in the Gothic Line

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 221, 18 September 1944, Page 5

Tough Fighting in the Gothic Line

Unspectacular But Steady Progress (By Telegraph —Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Sunday, 8.50 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 17. The Eighth Army continues to advance on the whole Adriatic iront, says the Exchange Telegraph’s Rome correspondent. Greek troops reached the edge of Bimini airfield, three miles from the town and fighting continues four miles southwest of Rimini itself. Five thousand five hundred Germans have heen taken prisoner since the start of the Adriatic offensive. In Italy the Allies have made important if not spectacular progress In the Adriatic sector where they have driven well into the Gothic Line defences and established bridgeheads over the Marano River. Beyond the river several ridges further north varying from five to ten miles have still to be negotiated before the Allies debouch into the Lorn bardy Plain. “The Eighth Army considerably in creased its bridgehead north of the Marano River against continued enemy resistance,” states an Allied communi que issued on Saturday. “In high ground on the left of this sector the enemy has been driven from Gemmano and Monte Colombo. United States, Bri tlsh and Indian troops of the Fifth Army havo been engaged in fierce fight lng in Gothic Lino positions. “In a day of heavy fighting the Eighth Army increased its bridgehead over the Marano Elver,’ says Sunday’s Allied communique. “Several strong enemy counterattacks against this bridgehead were beaten off with heavy enemy losses. British, American, Indian and Brazilian troops of the Fifth Army are still engaged in fierce fighting on a wide sector of the Gothic Line.” “Our light vessels in the Gulf of Genoa left one enemy destroyer sinking by the stem and secured several hits on enemy lighters and another destroyer. Heavy bombers attacked targets throughout the Balkans and the Aegean.” Two British destroyers three nights ago disposed of a German convoy, ac cording to the Admiralty. A British force north of Crete shortly before mid night made contact with three large caiques flying swastikas. As the destroyers opened fire the enemy vessels scat tered but they were chased and sunk one by one. Almost Immediately In the same area one German merchantman and two escorts were discovered ana engaged. They replied with close-range gunfire. One escort was summarily despatched and the merchantman set afire. The second escort blew up after a direct hit. The whole action lasted for two hours in pitch darknoss pierced by star shells and searchlights. Allied heavy bombers attacking the three Athens airfields on Friday destroyed 77 planes on the ground including 60 Junkers-52 transports, and damaged 20 other planes. Heavy bombers also indicted heavy damage on the Salamis U-boat base.