Evening star., 1943-12-10
Fifth Army Cracks Nozi Lines
On Both Sides of Road to Rome:
Reds Seize Key Roi|rood Center
Cunudiun Forces in
9th Army Advance
On Smile Front
BY the Associated Press.

ALLIED HEADtQUARIE IERS, Al
giers, Dec. 10.-The Allied 5th
Army has cracked German de-
fenses on both sides of the Via
Casilina at Mignano in bloody
nine-day offensive brought to a
smashing climax by American
troops who seized Mount Samu-
GRO in "the battle of the Clouds -
Allied headquarters announced
today.
At the same time. it was disclosed
that Canadians, infantry and tanks
spearheading the 9Th Army along
the Adriatic, were smashing forward
on an Smile front after forcing a
second crossing of the Moro River.
Fighting against the strongest
man made defenses and toughest
natural obstacles yet encountered in
Italy, 1t. Gen. Mark w. Clark S
veteran British and American troops
have wiped out the German noun
tain line on both sides of the main
road to Rome and are stabbing into
secondary defenses in the direction
of Casino.
Still Face Strong Defense.
Measured in miles. their advance
has not been great since Gen. Clark
gave the word for the onslaught, and
they still are faced by a formidable
network of Notifications covering
the hillsides as far as Casino and
beyond.
The deepest penetration of the
offensive has been only about three
miles.
But by the yardstick of military
achleVement their success is one of
the greatest of the Mediterranean
theater, for they have smashed in
little over week what the enemy
hoped would stand as an impreg-
nable line for many months, and
they have overcome terrain and
Notifications substantially more
difficult than those in Tunisia which
stalled the Allied attack for a
whole winter.
Bloody Fighting Reported.
The American engagement on
Monte Samucro consisted of bloody
hand-to-hand fighting with the
Germans in mists which Rugged the
top of the 3,0OO-foot high mountain.
Rocca d'Evando, village 79 miles
below Rome and miles southwest
of Mignano. was captured in the
advance. 1t was the last German
held village in the Mignano vicinity.
In as fierce an action as ever
was fought by American troops.
Gen. Clark's veterans crept up
Samucro, and fell on the Germans
in the clouds before they were aware
Of their presence.
Wiping out all opposition in grim
battle with rifles, pistols, knives and
grenades, the Americans installed
themselves in the strategic high po-
sition overlooking the strongly for
tified villages of San Vittore and
San Pietro
Way Opened for New Drive.
These villages are only 6 and
Z lllltS, ICSpSIl1NCly, oOutilSoSI
of Casino. and the way was opened
for a smash toward that strategic
gateway to Rome, now that the
German hold on Mignano Pass has
been broken
The Allies now firmly occupied
the entire eastern and southern
bank of the Garigliano River from
Rocca d'Evandro to it's mouth,
distance Of IA airline miles.
In their sweep forward the Amer
leans also rolled into the village of
Massa la Vale, due south of Rocca
d'Evandro, and captured important
equipment which the Germans had
ing two 88-mm. guns, five 75-mm.
guns, machine guns, trucks and
many unused mines, all in good con-
dition.
The first phase Of Gen. Clark's
new offensive, in which supplies
were carried to almost inaccessible
mountain tops by mules and planes,
thus was ended.
Heavy Bombardment.
The Canadian attack along the
Moro sector began at pm. We'd
nesday after a heavy air and artil-
lery bombardment and was reported
making good progress with armored
support
The Canadians were now leading
the 9th Army in what appeared to