CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23029, 21 October 1944, Page 5

CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

New Zealanders Take Rufflo

LONDON, October 19. A bridgehead over the Pisciatello River has been established by the Canadians who are advancing against Cesena, says the correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency. The bridgehead, which is small, is north of the railway.

The New Zealanders, on the Canadians’ right flank, have cleaned up Rufflo, just short of the river. The movement to outflank Cesena is progressing, in spite of heavy opposition. Fighting has flared up in the area of Galeta, which is a road junction east of the Forll road.

A Mediterranean naval communique reports that naval aircraft on Sunday made low-level attacks against enemy transport inland from Volos (Greece). They destroyed four armoured cars, three ammunition trucks and 27 other motor vehicles, and damaged more than 30. Naval aircraft attacked an ammunition ship, which blew up, and set fire to a coaster. His Majesty's ship Argonaut, north-

east of Psathura Island, on Monday, destroyed a caique that was carrying 200 enemy infantry. The destroyer Termangant sank a ferry laden with valuable equipment. The garrison of Santarim in North Crete yesterday surrendered to his Majesty’s shin Ajax. British and Indian troops of the Eighth Army have entered Cesena, and have cleared all resistance east of the Savlo River, states to-day’s Allied communique from Italy. East of the Cesena, Dominion Eighth Army troops have enlarged the bridgehead over the Pisciatello River. They are continuing to advance toward the Savio River. In the central sector, Eighth Army forces have made local gains south of Galeta. Heavy fighting continues south of Bologna. British Fifth Army troops have captured several Important features on the right flank of the American drive. American Fifth Army forces have continued to make .progress against undiminished resistance, and have cleared the town of Lorenzone.