NEAR PONTECORVO

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22354, 22 May 1944, Page 3

NEAR PONTECORVO

ADVANCING FRENCH TROOPS (Received May 22, 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 21 Late reports from correspondents in Italy say the French troops pushing: on the road to San Oliva are 1000 yards from Pontecorvo, the kingpin of the Hitler Line. Canadians are converging: against the town from the east. The rapid progress of the French threatens the Liri .Valley from behind. Americans are less than seven miles from Terracina. Americans occupied Fondi yesterday. The capturu represents eight miles of advance from Itri in 24 hours. The British, United Press correspondent cabling from Anzio beachhead says the Germans flooded part of the Pontine Marshes in the path of the Fifth Army advancing from the south, but the TerracinaCistema highway is well built up and cannot be seribusly flooded. Naval co-operation yesterday included the successful bombardment of targets in and around the enemyoccupied town of Terracina. The communique says there were many hits in the town and on the roadways. Fires were also started when a dump was heavily plastered.

The Allied air communique from Italy says that fighter-bombers were active yesterday in support of the ground forces and against forward enemy lines of communication. The targets included gun positions, troop concentrations, defended areas, roads, railway rolling-stock, motor transport, a tunnel near Terracina and a bridge north-east of Rome. Other fighter-bombers attacked shipping off toe Dalmatian coast. Fighters flew patrols over our frontline areas. Bad weather prevented heavy bombers and medium bombers from operating. Six of our planes are missing. No enemy planes were sighted during daylight over the battle areas. We flew 640 sorties.