Evening star., 1944-05-15
French Advance 7 Miles in Ita|v
Causing Big Breach in Nazi Line;
Americans Take Two More Towns
Ausoniu Seized:
Berlin Admits
New Setback
By the Associated Press.

miles from the take-off point on
the 5th Army right wing in the
new Allied offensive and cap
tured the important town OF
Ausonia, creating a Significant
breach" in the Germans Gustav
Line in Southern Italy, Allied
headquarters announced today
(The German high command
today acknowledged a withdrawal
of several kilometers" south of
Casino on the 9th Army sector)
The Americans have driven the
enemy out of Santa Maria Infante
and San Pietro, north of the Lower
Garigliano River and taken vital
mountain positions on both sides of
the Ausente River.
The French have reached the hills
dominating San Giorgio, equally as
important as Ausonia.
Press Attack on Spigno.
The Americans are pressing an
attack on Spigno, showing they
have driven at least 4 miles north
and west of Minturno.
Ausonia is 61a miles north of
Minturno and San Giorgio is miles
southwest of Casino and / mile
south of the Liri River.
Farther to the north the often
sive also gained, with the British
and Indians deepening their Ra-
pido River bridgehead to at least
1000 yards and sending over great
numbers of tanks to exploit this
attack into the Liri Valley-a direct
road to Rome.
More than 1000 prisoners already
have streamed back into Allied
cages and others were coming in
constantly as the attacks pro-
gressed.
Hard Fighting Continues.
Very heavy casualties have beer
inflicted along the whole front anc
hard fighting continues everywhere
up and down the line of attack, an
Allied communique said.
The German list Division, which
was entirely reconstructed after it's
original was wiped out at Stalin-
grad, bore the brunt of the 5th
Army attack and lost over 1,20C
men in prisoners alone, including
six battalion commanders.
The whole front-line defenses OF
this division have been overturned
French troops, who were the first
to launch their attack Thursday
night and who have been sluggine
through extremely difficult terrain
quickly exploited their initial sue.
cess.
Charging yesterday with infantry
and tanks, they overran the towns
of San Ambrogio, Villa Maio anc
Ausonia, by-passing strong enemy
points which now are being mopped
up.
AnsOnia- -Fromia Road Cut.
simultaneously the Americans or
the extreme left of the attack line
cut the Ausonia- -Fromia road.
After bitter and bloody fight the
Americans drove the Nazis out o.
Santa Maria Infante at noon yes.
terday, pushed on to road juno
tion northeast of the town and
famed out to capture San Pietrc
and the nearby hills, Monte Cerr
and Monte Bracchi, on either side
Of the Ausente River. Then they
continued the attack on Spigno.
The French in the Upper Ga.
rigliano area approached the Lir
River in the vicinity of San Giorgic
after occupying number of domi.
mating heights. Ausonia, in thu
valley connecting the Liri Vale,
with the sea, fell yesterday after.
noon.
In quick succession the French
won 2,500-foot Monte Rinchiuso anc
l,900-foot Cole Agrifoglio and oc
cupied San Andrea and San Am.
brogio and mopped up San Ap.
polinare.
Nazis Routed From Areas.
Subsequently the troops of Gen
Alphonse JUN routed the German.
from the l,400-foot Cole Castellone
highest feature overlooking Sar
Giorgio, and Cole Cantelupo
which overlooks the Liri Valley ant
TANKS enemy positions in the valley
The defended town of Corens
southeast of Ausonia was by-passet
and surrounded and other heights
beyond were seized.
Southwest of Casino the enem,
put in strong counterattack
throughout yesterday with infantr,
supported by Nebelwerfers, ARTILLERY
and a few tanks. From elements
OF the Nazi LIST Parachute Division
IN this sector the Allies captured
officers and lit men prior Il
yesterday.
The only sector of the offensive
front where the fighting died dowr
was northwest of Casino, where
the Poles had attacked heavily O,
the two preceding days.
Nazis Reinforce Defenses.
1t was reported officially that tn,
enemy was hastily reinforcing hi
detenses against the Poles and NOV
ing up other reinforcements ais,
Tor a prolonged battle along tn,
entire front with an evident deter
mlnatlon to prevent any break
through on the Gustav Line which
would permit the Allies to beeir
an early assault on the Hitler Lin,
beyond.
Knife-Swinging Gurkhas cleaned
out the last enemy resistance in tn
labarynthine cellars and fortified
buildings of San Angelo in the Ra
pido bridgehead and tanks and in
fantry advanced slowely south O
that town. Enemy pockets wer,
mopped up also in the area of tn,
Rapido and Liri Rivers.
The enemy resisted a tank advanc,
from the bridgehead with tanks an,