POSITIONS BY-PASSED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 57, 5 September 1944, Page 5

POSITIONS BY-PASSED

BRIDGEHEADS ESTABLISHED Rec. 10 a-m. RUGBY, September 4. i At the western end of the Italian front the Fifth Army has completely by-passed Monte Pisano on both sides and seriously threatened the PistoriaAltopascio Hoad. Altopascio is 10 mileseast of fLucca, and Pistoria is 20 miles east-north-east of the same town. Enemy resistance in this sector is confined to isolated strong-points and scant artillery fire, and showed no signs of stiffening. Late on Sunday afternoon the Fifth Army had taken Pieve, five miles south-east of Lucc^; and troops were two miles north of Monteserra. On the Adriatic front, Polish troops of the Eighth Army cleared Pesaro of the enemy, and in a swift encircling drive to the coast, north-west of Gradara, inflicted great casualties on the German paratroops. The Canadians launched a twocolumn attack, and the right-hand column, after taking Pieve, two .miles south of Gradara, by-passed resistance at Gradara and * reached the coastal Route 16, and then drove northwest to the coast east of Cattolica, which was also by-passed. They turned west, and two nights ago established an infantry bridgehead over the Conca River, about 6000 yards from the mouth. Tanks and other infantry were rushed up to this bridgehead, and the position was rapidly consolidated. Gradara and Cattolica were both cleared of the enemy, and the Canadians, after establishing a bridgehead, continued west, / and after breaking through, captured San Giovanni, on the Entena River, west of Gradara. After much fierce fighting they also captured the much-contested Monte Gridolfo, 13 miles west of Pesaro Meleto and Saludecio, just north of Monte Gridolfo, were also captured .The bridgehead over the Conca puts the Canadians more than 13 miles east of Pesaro, and within 10' miles of Rimini. East of Florence, enemy resistance is increasing, particularly in the Santa Bregida area, nine miles north-east of Florence. In the Apennines an advance of 2000 yards" was made, and the troops in the Arno Valley prob- I ing towards the Gothic Line, made contact at several points.—B.O.W: