Evening star., 1944-05-20
ItuIy
Continued From First Page

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through the encircling ring of
German defenders. although re-
cent Allied communiques have
mentioned virtually no activity
at AnZio.
ION the Anzio bridgehead, 5th
Army forces have been in the
Province of Rome Tor weeks. The
provincial boundary hits the west
coast at Terracina. The boundary
running inland is well in advance
of positions reported yesterday
French Take Sant'Oliva.
While the Americans pushed the
Germans from their sector in the
Aurunci Mountains running down to
Gaeta Point, Gen. Alphonse JUN S
French troops ripped into the Hit
Ter Line fortifications farther north,
capturing the village of SAINT Olivia,
which had been designated q
strongpoint. These were the troops
who rode up to that town two days
ago on the backs of American tanks.
The French then thrust on, seiz-
ing Monte Mandrone, which domi-
mates the whole area north Of
nt'Oliva and also commands the
road due westward from Pontecorvo
to Pico.
In the Liri Valley British and
Dominion tanks and armored cars
advanced rapidly yesterday against
light resistance to the outskirts of
the Aquino Airdrome, another point
in the heavy Hitler Line fortifica-
tions guarding the broad valley.
German parachute troops guard
ing the airdrome were dispersed and
their vehicles set ablaze by the
heavy fire of the British force.
The armor then stabbed forward
to the wire entanglements in front
of the town of Aquino and laid a
surprise curtain of fire on the Ger
man infantry.
British elements advancing on the
road from Pignataro to Pontecorvo
halted 1000 yards from the Hitler
Line Notifications guarding Pont-
ecorvo to permit artillery to lay a
concentration of shells on the
enemy.
At the northern end OF the Of
fensive front the Poles smashed
westward through high mountains
from the Casino area and captured
Villa Santa Lucia, two and half
miles northwest of the Casino
monastery.
Polish patrols also moved up into
Piedimonte just of Highway No.
6. Official accounts said nothing
about opposition there.
Several mountains in the area
northwest of Casino, including
Monte Castellone, Cole San Angelo.
Point 575 and Monte Cessino, have
been cleared of small enemy de-
tachments.
Line Given New Name.
Apparently trying to save pres
tige, the Nazi high command was
disclosed to have taken the name
Adolf Hitler Line" away from the
Notifications guarding the Liri VAL
ley and the area southwark which
already has been riddled in several
places. Prisoners now say that line
is called the Dora Line.
1t is believed the name of Hitler
has now been given to another line
nearer Rome.
American troops pouring west
ward to seize 1tri found a wide area
Uttered with evidences Of destruc-
ton by American artillery as we'll as
the hasty flight of the beleaguered
enemy. Smashed guns, vehicles and
many dead horses covered the
ground.
American infantry swung down
Gaeta Point and occupied the town
OF Gaeta yesterday afternoon while
other units seized 4,000-foot Monte
Pezze north of Itri.
The capture of Gaeta and Formia
gives the Allies control of the entire
Gulf OF Gaeta and two seaports.
In the course of their newest
gains French troops captured three
heights west of SAINT Olivia, including
3,200-foot Monte Croce overlooking
the Itri-Pico road.
There still are mopping ac-
tvltles in the Casino area and big
American-made bulldozers rumbled
through the rubble of the town
opening lanes for the steady flow