BRITISH OUTFLANK LAKE COMACCHIO

Southland Times, Issue 25641, 7 April 1945, Page 5

BRITISH OUTFLANK LAKE COMACCHIO

Success Of New Push In Italy

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, April 5. Since yesterday’s advance of three miles, troops of the British Bth Army have practically reached the road running along the northern shore of Lake Comacchio from the coast to Ferrara. They are thus now threatening the town of Comacchio and hav» outflanked the lake, which has been a great water obstacle for many months, say agency correspondents at Allied Headquarters in Italy. Tire Allies now control the lake’s eastern and south-eastern shores, and when the big offensive begins the Bth Army’s left flank will be free for a possible advance to Ferrara. If they exploit this threat the Germans east and south-east of Bologna will be endangered. The German News Agency said early today that formations of the Allied sth Army, after several hours’ artillery fire which became a violent drumfire barrage, went over to the offensive about 6 a.m. in the Ligurian coastal sector. The British were at present bringing up reinforcements in the Isthmus between Lake Comacchio and the Adriatic. Rail communications in northern Italy and Yugoslavia were again attacked today by Liberators and Fortresses of the 15th Air Force, writes a correspondent in Rome. Lightnings bombed targets in Yugoslavia, and Mustangs carried out strafing missions in southern Germany and Austria. Meanwhile, strong forces of Tactical Air Force aircraft hammered coastal guns and artillery on the south and west 'coasts and Fort Spezia, as well as the usual communication targets on the Brenner Line in southern Austria and northern Yugoslavia.