Evening star., 1944-06-08
5th Army Takes
Civitdvecchia,
Big Rome Port
Thrusts Swiftly Up
Coast 80 Miles
Beyond Capitol
MAP on Page Az
By the Associated Press.

% the associated Press.
ROME, June S.-The 5th Arnv
mas captured Civitavecchia
Rome's principal port, SO miles
northwest of the capital. and
To-Day was thrusting swiftly i'm
the west coast to maintain con-
tact with the retreating enemy.
Other 5th Army units, speeding
IN more northerly direction. cam
tured the town of Bracciano. 2o
miles north of Rome, on the west
shore of the large lake Of the same
name. Still another column was
last reported passing the lake ON
the east side, is miles north OF
Rome.
The Germans still appeared to be
withdrawing in a bad state of de-
moralization, without any indica-
ton yet available as to when they
might turn and attempt a deter
mined stand.
Nazis Badly Disorganized.
An ofiicial spokesman declared
the battered remnants of the Ger
man 14th Army are In a consider
able state of disorganization. Up-
ward Of 40 Wehrmacht formations
are represented in the collection Of
prisoners taken in the exodus from
Rome and beyond. Apparently even
battalions are attaching them
selves to whatever higher echeIon il
available"
Allied forces driving due north OF
Rome captured the former head
quarters of Field Marshal Albert
Kesselring, about 8 miles south-
east Of Civita Castellana.
The headquarters, described as
an elaborate, tunnelled UNDER
ground stronghold" was put under
strong guard.
The drive on Ciyita Castellana,
about as miles northeast of Rome.
made rapid progress up Highway 8
and an official report that recon-
naissance elements encountered
some opposition west of the town
indicated it might BE by-passed
first.
The 9th Army, meanwhile, punched
into the Tiber Valley above Rome
and forced northward along the east
banks of the river.
Other Towns Captured.
Gen. Sir Oliver Leese's men cap
tured the important town of Monte
rondo, IL miles northeast of Rome
and the same distance northwest of
Tivoli, and the nearby towns of
SAINT Angelo, Romano, Guidonia,
and Montana. Guidonia is valuable
because it has an airfield.
Farther to the east the 9th Army
captured Subiaco, about 8 miles
south of the main highway running
across the Italian peninsula from
Rome to the Adriatic, and stabbed
up on lateral road which had been
one of the main German lines of re-
treat.
Around Subiaco, the site of an
ancient Benedictine monastery, en-
emy tanks and infantry put up a
stiff scrap and the line of advance
for armored units was held to the
road, which was cratered by demo-
litions. The villages of Venne and
Vallepietra were occupied in this
area.
Enemy transport Withdrawing to-
ward AveZanno in the Apennines
from Balsorano was shelIed heavily,
and ii German Mark v panther
tanks were found Some of these
had broken down and were set afire
by the Germans.
Near the Adriatic flank, 9th Army
troops followed up the withdrawing
Germans, gaining to 3 miles
to reach the outskirts of the towns
of Barrea, Pescocostanzo and Rivis-
ondoli in the direction of Sulmona,
birthplace of Ovid.
Allies Win Invaluable Post.
The capture of Civitavecchia,
whose population is approximately
$4,000, gives the Allies a valuable
port, which has been enlarged
greatly in recent years.
Between $50 and 500 Fortresses
and Liberators yesterday pounded
rail lines on the French Riviera,
the Port of Livorno, the Voltri
shipyards west of Genoa, and the
Savona rail yards.