NEARING KEYPOINTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 126, 29 May 1944, Page 5

NEARING KEYPOINTS

ALLIED SPEARHEADS VELLETRI AND VALMONTONE (By Tuegraph—Press Association —Copyright) Recd. 9.35 p m. London, May 28. Armoured spearheads are steadily edging closer to Velletri and VaTmontene, keypoints in the defence of Rome, says Reuter’s correspondent nt advanced Allied headquarters. American tanks and field-guns have German traffic on Highway Six under lire. The Germans are fiercely resisting in the Velletri area, all available German reserves being thrown in. The British United Press correspondent states: “With the use of Highway Six virtually denied to the Germans by fire from American guns, the German forces remaining from what was the Hitler Line, and between it and the beachhead, are now cut off. How many of these 89,000 to 90,000 men were able to escape before the road was cut is unknown, but because of the destruction of vehicles and the blocking of the road by our air forces large German forces are beLeved to be still in the Lepini HHI area, south-east of Valmontone.” The German news agenev, quoting a High Command report, savs the Allies are using; amphibious tanks to cross ditches and water in -the Pontine Marshes.