Evening star., 1944-07-04
American Forces
Push 10 Point Within
IS Miles Of Leehorn
Allied Armies Surge
Nearer Nozi Defense Line
On Entire Itolion Front
BY the Associated Press.

/ by lne ASsoclaleQ fress.
ROME, July 4.-The Allied
armies surged forward across
the width of Italy today. with
the Americans penetrating to
within Is miles of Livorno LEG
horn on the west coast, and the
9Th Army advancing to within s
miles of the inland communica-
tions center of AreZZo.
The Americans were reported
within big gun~range of part of the
so-called German Gothic line run
ming from Pisa to Rimini on the
Adriatic.
The whole area Immediately north
Of Lake Trasimeno was cleared Of
the enemy as the Germans there
fed northward avoiding combat with
the 9th Army whenever possible.
This flight, however, came only
after some Nazi units had fought
and perished in stubborn rearguard
/ battles.
Nazis Fight to Last Man.
! Typical Of this type OF defense
was the fighting for Magione on
the east side of the lake. where an
official source said the Germans
fought Ito the last man and the last
round"
The heaviest battles. however
were reported on the west coast,
where an American regimental COM
bat team attached to the 34th In
fantry Division spearheaded the at
tack up the shoreline to a point 4
miles north of Cecina.
Artillery observers spotted a solid
string Of enemy vehicles, guns and
personnel Withdrawing along the
highway toward Livorno and Pisa
ahead of the American troops. Big
American guns laid down a fire
which officially was reported to have
caused heavy destruction and
slaughter"
For the first time in recent weeks
the 5th Army came under the fire
of Nazi siX-barreled rocket mortars
AN indication the Allied force was
within range of prepared enemy
positions
26,500 Prisoners Taken.
Allied headquarters announced
the 5th Army has captured 265OO
prisoners from the opening of the
offensive May IL to July l, bringing
the total bag since the Salerno land
ing to more than 10000.
Twenty-six miles inland from
Cecina the 5th Army captured
Casola d'Elsa after some of the
stiffest opposition encountered north
of Rome. Cecina itself was SUBJ
jected to enemy air raids which
caused little or no damage.
After the capture of Siena French
columns famed out, cutting the
road to Arezzo at a point 8 miles to
the east.
The 8th Army pushed swiftly
after the fleeing Germans north of
Lake Trasimeno, gaining more than
miles in single day in a sector
to the northwest, where Marciano
!. and Lucignana were taken.
Fierce Battle Rages.
A little farther to the west a fierce
battle ragged between British units
and the Hermann Goering Division
north of Trequanda. Cortona, IL
miles southeast of Arezzo, also was
captured.
British Indian troops rolling up
the Tiber Valley won a footing on
Monte Acute, 3 miles southwest of
Umbertide. road junction IA miles
north Of Perugia. Another column
was thrusting toward Gubbio, 48
miles due south of Rimini.
In the Adristic sector. San Sew
erino and Matelica fell to the 9Th
Army and brisk fighting continued
In the vicinity of Osimo, IA miles
south of Ancona, where enemy losses
in equipment and troops were
mounting sharply despite favorable
defensive terrain bolstered by mine
fields.