HEAVY FIGHTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 224, 19 September 1944, Page 5

HEAVY FIGHTING

EIGHTH ARMY’S GAINS THE BATTLE FOR RIMINI Recd. 6 p.m. London, Sept. 17. In a day o£ heavy fighting, the Bth Army increased its bridgehead over the Marano River, says to-day's Allied communique. Several strong enemy counterattacks against this bridgehead were beaten off with heavy enemy losses. British, American, Indian and Brazilian troops of the sth Army are still engaged in tierce lighting on a wide sector-of the Gothic Line. Latest reports say that Allied troops have reached a corner of the Rimini airfield and are within two miles of the town. The Mediterranean air communique states that medium bombers yesterday attacked fuel supply dumps near Bologna. Medium bombers and light bombers attacked defence positions in the Rimini area. Fighters and fighterbombers carried out armed reconnaissances over the battle zone, attacking railway lines, rolling stock, roads, motor transport, guns, and enemy positions. Other aircraft attacked communications and gun positions in Yugoslavia. Heavy bombers did not operate because of bad weather. Four planes are missing from these operations. Recd. 5 p.m. London, Sept. 17. The battle for the Rimini Gap, on the Italian Adriatic coast, is rapidly moving to a climax, says the Britisii United Press correspondent. The Sth Army is advancing on an ever-widen-ing front and is now moving on the southern outskirts to the gateway to the northern plains. The Allied bridgehead over the Marano, a few milc-s south-westward, has been widened and strengthened. The Germans are calling up all their reserves to defend the last height before Rimini. Reuter’s correspondent says that although the Germans are using Panther and Tiger tanks to bar the way to Rimini resistance has noticeablweakened inland. The British have cut the Rimini-San Marino lateral road. The Germans, in the sth Army area, have camouflaged strongpoints of the Gothic Line defences with automatic weapons sited to throw interlocking bands of fire over all avenues of approach. These strongpoints are being tackled one by one as the Allied forces creep nearer the Apennine passes.