Evening star., 1944-02-06

By Herman X. Allen.
We may see more leap-frog land
ings in Italy. There are two
stretches of beach on the west coast
which might be used, and one on
the east coast.
The first possibility on the west
coast is a 40-mile length of shore
between Civitavecchia and Monte
Argentaria. to the north. The coast
is low, and the mountains are far
enough back to allow mechanical
forces to get a good foothold. Once
ashore they would Immediately cut
the coastal railroad and highway
and would find good roads to travel
inland Is miles to another main
highway. Another Is miles would
bring them to the third main high
way out of Rome, and another
railroad.
The object Of such a maneuver,
OF course, would be to cut Rome off
from the north. However, it may
be that the Germans will soon be so
we'll out of the Rome area that the
landings would not catch enough to
be worthwhile.
This would make 1t desirable to
land farther north. The next 100
miles or SO of coastline, however,
are not overly suitable for landing
operations. Between Monte Argen-
tario and Piombino is malaria
belt-low and swampy for the most
part. although the two ends are
rocky. Landings would be possible
but difficult, and roads which
could be cut by landing there could
be cut just as well farther up. The
ports of Portoferraio and Porte
Longone on the island Of Elba
might be occupied as advance bases
Mountains Close to Sea.
Between Piombino and Cecina
the mountains come too close to the
sea, but just north of Cecina begins
the second section of shoreline
which offers good landing possi-
bilities, continuing north as far as
the great naval base of La Spezia.
The coast is low and fat and the
mountains are well back. There is
one stretch, however, that would be
bad. That is the area where the
Arno and the Serchio Rivers flow
into the Ligurian Sea. Their
mouths are about 8 miles apart,
and the space between them and a
few miles above and below is
swampy.
The objective Of a landing in this
area would be the excellent harbor
of Livorno Ieghorn). With Liv-
orno as their main base and Via
reggie as a secondary base, Allied
attackers would threaten Florence
a transportation center and one of
the keys to the forward wall of the
"Etruscan line
1t is to this Etruscan line that it
is expected the Germans will fall
back for their main stand. They
repeatedly wanted to fall back there
when the Allies first landed, but
Mussolini opposed it. His opposi-
ton is believed to have been the
cause of his losing his job.
Coast Is Steep.
The main strength of this 50-mile
deep line Is in the mountain chain
running generally from La Spezia
to Rimini. To flank it on the west,
the Allies probably would have to
land at Genoa, or west Of there
The coast is steep between La
Spezia and Genoa, with but few
fishing ports capable of accommo-
dating only small numbers of our
troops.
Even west of Genoa, however
there are only few places where
landings could be made and the in
vaders would soon be confronted
with mountain chains. Unless the
Allies could fight their waw north
from the Cecina-La Spezia arc
their best bet would be to go ashore
between Ancona and Rimini, on the
other coast.
Here the mountains veer away
from the coast somewhat, and there
is a good beach at Rimini. How
ever, there are no port facilities
and the beach Is SO gradual thai
landing ships would have to stand
far out at sea. Ancona is a good
port, but to take it the Allies would
have to fight south from Rimini OF
try landing just above Ancona
which would be possible but difficult
because of the rocky shore.
In short, the Etruscan line /.
likely to prove a tough nut. A
frontal attack would be aided by a
good highway and rail line par
alleling it to the south, but the re-
treating Germans probably would
destroy the railroad, and they have
now had time to prepare good de-
fensive positions in the mountains
And if the Etruscan line falls
the Germans still have the Po River
line. And when that goes they have
the line running from Lake Garda
In the Alps, down to the upper
Adriatic along the Adige River.
any international airlines which
they permit to cross their territory
What formal treatment this pact
will receive in Washington, once