MORE “ELASTICITY”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1944, Page 4

MORE “ELASTICITY”

NEEDED BY THE GERMANS IN ITALY

ACCORDING TO BERLIN COMMENTATOR

TO ABSORB GREAT WEIGHT OF ALLIED OFFENSIVE

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 24. The success of the Allies in breaking out of the Anzio beachhead, occupying Terracina and breaching the Hitler Line in the Liri Valley is emphasised by a prediction from the German news agency’s military commentator, Captain Sertorius, that there would have to be a more marked elasticity in German defensive strategy to absorb the great weight of the Allied offensive. Late dispatches from Allied Headquarters reveal that an American armoured column smashed through the German flank on the Rome side of Cisterna as well as announcing the capture of Terracina, which was the southern end of the German switch line. TJie Algiers radio reports that British tanks which crossed the Moldetto River are advancing north-westward, and that Canadian tanks, advancing up the Liri Valley, have reached the Melfa River. An Associated Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters points out that the Canadian tank break through to the Melfa River represents a five-mile penetration of the heaviest Hitler Line fortifications, from the PontecorvoAquino Line. The Melfa River, flowing down from the High Appenines, joins the Liri five miles north-west of Pontecorvo, on which other Canadians are closing in. Reuter’s correspondent says the Canadians’ quick exploitation of their breach of the Hitler Line above Pontecorvo is driving the Germans back towards the Ceprano line, where they may attempt to check the Allied advance.

The Eighth and Fifth armies, 36 hours after the opening of their offensive, sre piercing the heart of Kesselring’s main defence area. BRITISH TANKS STRIKING NORTH TOWARDS ROME. FROM ANZIO BEACH-HEAD. (Received This Day, 12.30 mm.) LONDON, May 24. A cc-crdinated attack by French and American troops of the Fifth Army is developing in a northwesterly direction from the PicoMcnte Lucio sector. A Reuter correspondent says that if the Fifth Army can advance along the Pico-Ceprano-Arce Road, the German withdrawal from the Hitler Line defences in the Liri Valley will be hastened.

Polish and German shock troops* in Piedimonte are still fighting violently in hand to hand struggles. The Germans are using flame-throwers and mortars. There has bene no pause in the fighting, and there is no sign along the front of a disruption of the German forces, but there is reported to be much movement of German motor transport behind the line. The Germans in some of the Adriatic sectors are withdrawing under British pressure. There are indications, in the jamming of the Priverno-Falmontone road by convoys, that all the German forces are hastily clearing out of the coastal sector below the Pontine Marshes.

An official announcement from Allied Headquarters tonight said the beach-head forces had made further progress inland and taken many prisoners.

Reuter's correspondent at Advanced Headquarters, detailing the latest reports cf the progress of the beach-head force, says British tanks are striking north towards Rome aqross the Moldetta River. Americans, from the centre cf the perimeter, hold 4,000 yards of the Appian Way, south of Cisterna, and have cut the railway on the other side cf the town. It is these troops who have now broken through the German flank cn the Rcme side of Cisterna. Beach-head infantry who have fought their way 2,000 yards inland, had to overcome extensive minefields, barbed wire and hedgehog strong points. Minefields temporarily delayed progress at several points, but sections were cleared after a few hours. The Allied troops are meeting stiff resistance. The beach-head force yesterday took 380 prisoners. The total number of prisoners taken on all fronts during the past 12 days is over 7,500. Several hundred Germans may be trapped in a four-miles long railway tunnel, the southern end of which is held by the Americans, near Monte Stefano, while the northern exit is within reach of the Americans at Monte Orto. Hundreds of Germans emerging from the tunnel have already been taken prisoner. The Air Force continues ceaselessly hammering enemy traffic, the correspondent continues. Today’s German communique states: “The enemy continues, with increasing violence, a large-scale attack from the Nettuno bridgehead, and has succeeded in effecting rather deep breaches in our front in a number of sectors, by using the strongest artillery and tank forces, supported by numerous formations of battle planes.”