ENEMY ROUTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25737, 8 January 1945, Page 3

ENEMY ROUTED

THE ITALIAN FRONT A CANADIAN VICTORY CAPTURE OF SAN ALBERTO (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6. Correspondents at Allied headquarters in Italy describe the Canadians’ capture of San Alberto as the most outstanding success since the Allied forces’ entry into the Po Valley. It means that the Germans along the Adriatic coast, particularly at Porte Corsini, arc likely to have been cut off from the inland supply routes. Reuter’s correspondent says the Canadians are exploiting their latest gains. Backed by British armour they have battered a path to the shores of Valli di Comacchio. The Exchange Telegraph’s correspondent says it is the heaviest fighting which the Canadians have experienced since reaching the Hitler Line. Tank and infantry forces crossed the Bomfica Canal in strength, surprising the Germans defending the southern shore of Valli di Comacchio and forcing them to withdraw from the San Alberto area to the west and the east without being able to make a stand in front of the town. The Canadians followed up, and after completing the occupation of San Alberto drove to the east towards Mandriole, halfway to the coast, in pursuit of the routed enemy.

This success was made possible by a great tank battle begun on the night of January 3, when the Canadians beat off an enemy force double their own strength comprising elements of three crack German divisions. The enemy attacked slightly south of Conventilly, five miles east of Alfosine, where it was thought the Canadian front was weakest, thus hoping to split the Canadian front. Canadian tanks, assisted by a British rifle brigade, rolled forward, and a bitter battle began. Many hours, later, when the smoke and dust settled, the was found to be strewn with dead Germans and wrecked tanks. More than 500 Germans were killed, wounded or taken prisoner on one sector alone. The Allied forces were then able to consolidate their positions east of the Fossi Vecchio, which, at this point, flows parallel 1000 yards oast of the Senio River. The Boniflca Canal was then crossed at two places. The threat to San Alberto developed from two directions. The Germans, who were thrown into complete confusion by the bitter defeat, could not face another battle, and cleared out before it was too late. The Desert Air Force is helping in the pursuit. The Canadians are strafing the retreating Germans, causing them severe casualties. Marshal von Kesselring has reinforced his troops in the Valli di Comacchio Lagoon area, reports the correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. He originally entrusted the defence of Comacchio to a Jaeger division, but in an attempt to halt the hard-hitting Canadians he brought up reserves from the 26th Panzer Grenadier Division, and also deployed remnants of his personal bodyguard' as a machine gun battalion. The Tactical Air Force spotted a large concentration of enemy armour near San Alberto. All these efforts, however, have not stopped the impetus of the Canadians’ drive. They are across difficult canallaced country and are steadily pushing the extreme right flank of the Eighth Army further north.