OVER WHOLE OF PO VALLEY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 April 1945, Page 5

OVER WHOLE OF PO VALLEY

FIFTH AND EIGHTH ARMIES SPREAD OUT ENEMY PREPARES FOR STAND London, April 27. Fifth and Eighth Army forces, spreading out rapidly over the whole Po Valley and industrial north Italy, are approaching areas where Italian Partisans are disrupting the German rear, report correspondents from Allied Headquarters. The Germans are apparently determined to stand on the Adige River, but only because this line is the only place where they have prepared defences. Allied air forces have begun a fullscale assault on the Adige Line. It is officially stated that German resistance is generally weak and disorganised though there are strong pockets fighting in the rear of advancing Allied forces. Fifth Army troops overran Legnano on the Adige River which was also reached by the Eighth Army on a wide front after crossing the Bianco Canal at several places. Americans advancing along the Ligurian coast are now at Zoagli, 16 miles from Genoa. They encountered stiff opposition on the Entella River, but crossed it and advanced three miles to Zoagli. Fifth Army forces also rapidly advanced nearly 40 miles from Parma to capture a key crossing of the Po River 35 miles south-east of Milan. Armoured units farther northeast are sweeping along the west bank of Lake Garda. The German infantry divisional commander, Major-General Boehlke, has been captured. The Exchange Telegraph Agency cor resp 4 dent in Rome states that General CadiLna is directing the operations of Italian Partisans from Milan. Response to his appeal to attack the Germans, occupy depots and obstruct the retreat, took the eneirf by surprise. The mopping up of remaining Germans in north-western Italy is claimed to be proceeding rapidly.