GERMANS DRIVEN FROM DEFENCES

Southland Times, Issue 25482, 30 September 1944, Page 5

GERMANS DRIVEN FROM DEFENCES

sth Army’s Drive In Italy

(Rec. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 29. American troops of the sth Army after a successful day’s fighting on the central sector in Italy, have cleared the Germans from defence positions on the northern slopes of the Apennines, which overlook the main road to Bologna. The Bth Army has thrown back the Germans north of the Rubicon. Bad weather, however, has hampered the operations. On the Adriatic sector, the Bth Army’s advance about nine miles north of Rimini has been held up by fierce German counter-attacks. New Zealand troops have advanced two miles beyond Bellaria. Forces of the Sth Army threw the Germans from a ridge at Savignano, but the Germans later attacked in great strength and recaptured part of the ridge. American sth Army troops have regained the spur of Monte Lafine which was lost in a fierce counter-attack last Sunday night, says the Rome correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency. The Allies, after an advance of two miles, have captured the junction town of Castel Elo, under 20 miles from Bologna. British Bth Army forces in the Adriatic sector are only half a mile from Savignano, nine miles north-west of Rimini. Eighth Army forces made a spectacular 18-mile advance north of Bibbiena and made contact with the German rear-

guards holding the village of San Sofia on the road to Forli. t The Rome correspondent of Reuter s declares that Field Marshal Albert Kesselring is pulling out of the central bulge north-west of Rimini.

N.Z. TROOPS MAKE GAINS STEADY PROGRESS ON ADRIATIC COAST

(Official War Correspondent) THE RUBICON, September 27. ■ The progress of the New Zealanders up the Adriatic coast is steady, but not yet spectacular. The Rubicon proved no obstacle and our troops were delayed only a few hours before strong bridgeheads supported by armour were established on the northern bank.

This morning our armoured car patrols are probing forward in the face of light resistance and have reached positions less than five miles short of the next*fair-sized coastal town of Cesantico. This represents an advance of about two miles in the last 24 hours. Yesterday afternoon our armour reached the mouth of the Rubicon and found that the steel bridge spanning the deep tidal stream was damaged though it was negotiable. Armoured cars and infantry went across and thrust on through Bellaria. This morning I went by jeep up the coast road and passed over the bridge to this gutted collection of seaside villas which' is representative of the many wrecked resorts along the coast. The bridge, a substantial girder structure spanning a deeply-banked stream, bears the marks of hurried attempts at demolition, but they accomplished nothing beyond a few holes in the decking. The river. itself is cluttered with the pitiful wrecks of schooners, caiques and steel fishing vessels. They have been blown up as part of the elaborate fortification which protects the beach from a seaborne landing which never eventuated.

Up ahead mortars are dropping among our most forward armoured cars and from time to time enemy shells whistle overhead and fall on the road behind.

Last night New Zealand tanks and infantry forced a passage across the stream on our left flank. It was regarded as a manoeuvre which might result in serious clashes with the enemy, but surprisingly little opposition was encountered. A few prisoners were taken, resistance being confined to Spandau and sniper fire together with artillery. The country still has the same characteristics as we have met since Ri-mini-substantial houses on the coast and chains of ditches and land covered with trees, maize fields and embankments further inland. Demolitions and the water barrier are the chief bars to faster progress.

FIST FIGHTS IN ROMANCHURCH HYSTERICAL STATE OF PEOPLE (Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. <2B. The hysterical state of mind still prevalent through liberated Italy was shown when fist fights broke out in the fashionable Church of San Roberto Bellarmino in Rome, says the Rome correspondent of The New York Times. Until last week the preacher was Father Mauro Chiramonte, who soothed the well-to-do congregation, many of whom made their wealth through Fascism, with kind words about the past regime. However, the preacher last Sunday was Father Antonio Pignatelli, who just before he gave his sermon learned that the Germans had shot his father and brother as hostages. He used bitter words against the Nazis and Fascists, whereupon one member of the congregation protested and others cheered. Soon pandemonium developed in the church. The provincial head of the Jesuits 'prudently solved the difficulty by sending both priests from Rome to widely separated small parishes. PATRIOTS~IN ITALY (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, September 29. Italian patriots, fighting a guerilla war behind the German lines in north Italy, broadcast over a secret radio an appeal ,to General Sir Harold Alexander, for

the intensification of the Allied drive northward, says the Italy correspondent of The Daily Mail. The Patriots in an open letter to General Alexander said that the Germans, during a lull in the Florence area, were able to counter-attack and inflict heavy losses against the Patriots whose position was now difficult. They assured General Alexander that the Patriots would support the Allied drive with their full strength. Reuter’s correspondent says that the Allies made substantial advances on almost every sector, generally against stubborn resistance. The Germans are holding a mountain line 23 miles from Bologna with another lower mountain line between them and the Allies. Canadians entering Bellaria found Italian Patriots already in possession.