INTO HITLER LINE

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22353, 20 May 1944, Page 5

INTO HITLER LINE

FIFTH ARMY TANKS ALLIED FRONT ENLARGED BADLY MAULED ENEMY (UnitPd Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received May 20, 1 p.m ) LONDON, May 19 French troops and American tanks have broken into the Hitler Line fortifications. This is reported by the American Associated Press correspondent with the Fifth Army late today. The German News Agency had earlier mentioned Allied penetration at San Olivia on the lateral read from Pontecorva to the coast. The News Agency claimed that nearly all the Allied forces in Southern Italy had been thrown into the attack and estimated that they numbered 140,000

An Allied High Command spokesman today declared that the American and French blows south of the Liri Valley had forced the Germans into a disorderly retreat instead of a mere withdrawal.

The Germans were abandoning quantities of heavy equipment which the Allies had so far had no time to sort out. There was also considerable disorganisation in the Liri Valley, but not so complete as in the more southern sector.

A spokesman for General Alexander stated in the evening that the German withdrawal south of the Liri Valley was showing signs of disintegration. The spokesman instanced the abandonment of divisional artillery by two German divisions retreating througn the mountains. According to the Algiers radio Allied artillery is shelling Itri, the outskirts of which the Americans have already reached. The British United Press correspondent reports that the Germans before retreating to the Hitier Line set fire to the ancient fortress of Gaeta, on the cape south of Formia. The Americans beyond Formia fanned out north and south with reconnaissance units attending to German stragglers. The Americans had a tough battle before they finally won Formia. German artillery attempted to block the road to Itii and left many snipers, mines and booby traps. Strong forces of General Leese’s command are gathering to punch a hole in the Hitler Line, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army The Gennans, disorganised and badly mauled, await the next blow from the army, which is feeling its strength and exercising its superiority with telling effect. The battles since the fall of Cassino and Monastery Hill has jumped ahead rapidly. The Germans have been so spending their strength between the Gustav and Hitler Lines that' the latter may not be manned to resist a sustained attack. British and Dominion troops are rapidly controlling more and more of Highway 6, while the Poles continue to clear the parallel slopes on the Allies’ right flank. This vital road, on which the Allied forces will eventually march to Rome, is difficult to destroy. It should be well preserved for Allied use. The Times correspondent says the Germans are being well jostled, with the British force enlarging its front in the Liri Valley. The New Zealand Tank Squadron operating on the right flank is reported to have reached Aquino aerodrome, about a mile east of the town.

The British, after crossing the Rapido had to fight every inch of the way through most intricate country, undulating and split up by deep streams, also screened by trees, but the rapid French advance south of the Liri Valley greatly assisted our advance.

The Americans have closed in on Itri after advancing across rugged trackless slopes. Their task also is far from easy. Farther south, where the coastal front is extremely narrow, the Germans have destroyed every bridge and are constantly shelling the road.