The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-06-05
Germans In Disorderly
Retreat North of Rome
Continued from Page u

/ through the enemy's tough Albar
Hill defenses thanking the Via Cas-
lima and had anticipated an easy
thrust across the Campagna Plain
into Rome, but instead found Ger
man tanks, self-propelled guns
machine-gun nests and mortar posi-
tons barring their path.
Clark arrived at the scene soon
after vanguards entered the suburbs
and ordered the Allies to hold their
fire for three hours to give the
enemy chance to withdraw from
the approaches to the Holy City.
When the Germans still held to
their positions Clark gave the Or
der to fire at II a. m. and artil-
lery and tanks sent heavy barrage
crashing into the outskirts. A tank
battle broke out, but the enemy
soon wavered and broke, and the tri-
umphal march was on.
American Sherman tanks, decorat-
ed with red peoples and yellow
daisies, were in the vanguard. In
fantry, not to be outdone, stuck
red and green feathers in their he'll
NETS, Indian style.
Italians living along the Via CAST
lima emerged from their cellars cau-
tiously at first, then broke into
cheers as they recognized the Amer
leans. The civilians pelted the
marchers with flowers.
But resistance continued from
either flank of the highway and fire.
quent shellbursts interrupted the
celebration. Scores of civilians were
killed or wounded. American patrols
were kept busy wiping out enemy
troops in houses, towers and even
trees.
An explosive charge was found
in at least one house just outside
the city limits Of Rome.
Alexander, along with Premier
Marshal Pietro Badoglio of Italy, ap-
pealed Saturday night and early
Sunday to the population of Rome
to help its liberators by doing all
in their power to prevent the de-
struction of the city by the Ger
mans.
The two officials called on civil
ians to prevent the enemy from
blowing up charges they may have
| placed under bridges, government
buildings, and public utilities and to
hide their food and grain. All
street barbados and other obstruc-
tons should be removed, they said.
1T is vital that Allied troops
be able to pass through Rome with
out delay in order to continue de-
struction of German armies far
Their north" Alexander and Badog-
lilo said. Citizens of Rome. this
Is not the time for demonstrations.
DO what we tell you and continue
with your daily work.
Rome is yours. Your job is to
save the city. Ours is the destruc-
ton of the enemy"
Up to $50 Flying Fortresses and
Liberators of the 18th Air Force
sought to sever German communica-
tons between northern italy and
southern France yesterday with a
massive raid on the two main rail-
way lines crossing the French Alps.
Cutting of the lines would prevent
the Germans from shifting REIN
forcements from France to Italy.
On the double-track Mt. Gents
Line. the bombers hit the Turin
railway yards and the Cad bridge
in Italy and the Modene tunnel and
targets near st. Michele in France.
On the Riviera Line, viaduct
southwest of Cannes. the Var river
bridge southwest of Nice, the Genoa
railway rdas, and the Rocco viaduct,
east OF Genoa were attacked.
Other formations bombed rail-
way yards at Novilegure, Is miles
north Of Genoa, and Savona harbor,
IS miles west of Genoa.