Evening star., 1944-07-19
ltoIy's Third Port
Seized as Nuzis
Abandon Defense
By the Associated Press.

Mark w. Clark's 5th Army today
captured Livorno Ueghorn), ex-
ecuting q wide pincers move
ment which forced the Germans
from this third largest seaport
In Italy q few hours after Polish
troops had seized Ancona, inn
pOrtant port on the Adriatic.
Livorno lies only . few miles from
Pisa, western anchor OF the next
German defense line.
No effort to defend the city street
by street was made by the German
troops, who previously had resorted
to every military device in their
efforts to dodge and delay the
American advance.
The capture came after the infan-
trymen seized the hills overlooking
the great port late yesterday. Spo-
radio but nonetheless vicious artil-
lery, mortar and small arms resist
ance was put up by the Germans
before the city.
Pisa North Of Livorno.
The harbor Of Livorno, the busiest
between Rome and Genoa, Is the
grave Of many sunken ships, mostly
victims Of the Allied air forces. To
the north. astride the Arno River,
Pisa Is clearly visible.
The Allies scored another sting
ing victory on the east coast in the
capture Of Ancona by the Poles OF
the 9Th Army. The city occupies
an amphitheater between limestone
promontories bordering the Bay of
AnconA and has one of Italy's best
harbors. It is the nearest port to
the Yugoslav coast across the Adri-
attic.
More than 1000 prisoners. and
large quantities of war material
were taken by the Polish troops,
who today were pursuing the re-
treating enemy relentlessly north
ward.
The fall Of Ancona followed
75-mile advance against stubborn
resistance offered by two German
divisions which finally were forced
to retire when the Poles smashed
through their lines west of the city.
Read Cut by Yanks.
The American entrance into Lii
vorno came after 5th Army troops
won positions on the slopes Of
Monte Della Pogsia-only ; miles
from the center of the port-after
fierce fighting.
Farther inland, Is the result Of 4
swift advance, American troops
drove . wedge between German
forces south of the Arno by captur-
ing the town of Pontedera and cut
ting the direct east-west road be-
tween Pisa and Florence.
In the central sector OF the front,
British troops of the 5th Army made
new gains west of Arezzo sweeping
across the Arno River on q front OF
s miles. An Allied communique said
the British seized the town Of Mon
tevarchi, is miles west Of Arreso.
The capture of Ancona, . city
with normal population of nearly
100,0 900, was the greatest success re-
corded by Polish troops since they
stormed almost impregnable Ger
man positions at Monte Casino
Abbey at the start of the Rome Of
fensive.
The first troops entered the port
at 2:30 pm. yesterday after one
column had driven through to the
coast 3 miles above the city, thus
effectively, clinching . hold on 1t.
Other Towns Taken.
Even as the victorious forces
pushed into Ancona other Polish
columns, strongly supported by
armor, were speeding on to the
north and west, taking the towns Of
Agugliano and Camerano in stride.
In the Upper Tber Valley, 9Th
Army troops captured high ground
southeast Of Citta di CASTILLO and
made other gains.
Fauglia, Badalucco and Luciano
fell to the Americans closing In on
Livorno from the east.
Although the Germans have been
working for eight months on their
Gothic Line, across the Italian PEN
insula from above Pisa and Florence
to Rimini on the Adriatic coast, 1t
was learned that they have not yet
completed 1t. Formidable positions
have been built, however, in all
mountain passes by the approxi-
mately 10000 laborers.
? The Gothic Line follows 4 chain
Of the highest mountains in North
ern italy and Is said to be so miles
deep at points.