Evening star., 1944-05-28
War Review
Fate of Rome Soon to
Be Settled
By Hoacard p. Bailey

5th Army and the British 9th
moved to within less than 20 miles
at some points perhaps only IL OIL
13 miles, of the Italian capital.
Conflicting reports have come
from enemy sources as to Hitler's
intentions, whether he plans tc
order retreat to Northern Italy
where strong lines of defense have
been prepared, and in so doing SAL
wage as many of the troops and as
much OF the equipment as possible
or make a stand before and in
Rome and thus gain time which will
cost him heavily in manpower and
in the end do him no good
German statements concerning a
massing of Allied strength on the
island OF Corsica indicating nervous
ness over the possibility of an am
phibious operation against South
ern France, some point or points
along the Ligurian Sea coast or due
east against the coast of Italy north
OF Rome perhaps are forerunners
OF rapid retreat northward.
Terracina Is Captured.
The coastal anchor of the German
lines at Terracina, north of Gaeta
was entered by American troops
Monday after a emile advance
which placed them only "a miles
from the 5th Army forces which had
held the Anzio beachhead for many
months against everything Hitler
could throw at them.
Striking simultaneously, Polish
units in the 9Th Army, pushed their
way into Piedimonte, strong point
west of Casino guarding one of the
approaches to the Liri Valley. On
the lower side Of the valley other
units entered Pontecorvo while Ital-
ions farther west cut the highway
linking Pontecorvo and Pico, thus
clearing the way for new operations
northWard in the Liri Valley.
Tuesday, while between 500 and
700 heavy bombers blasted all Ger
man positions within a 50-mile
radius of Rome, the Anzio beach,
head forces launched a vigorous of
fensive southwark to connect their
line with that being pushed north
ward from Terracina.
A 2-mile advance northward put
pressure on both sides of the Ger
man positions along the coast and,
combined with the evacuation of
Pico, which Berlin admitted Tues
day, made the situation untenable.
The successes up to that point
caused Brendan Bracken, Britain's
Minister of Information to declare
"the Germans are receiving one of
the greatest thrashings in their
history"
Fronts Are Linked.
The Americans striking south
ward from the Anzio positions en-
countered sitter resistance than
those moving northward, for the
Germans earlier had developed
powerful defenses to prevent ex-
pansion of the bridgehead. How
ever, patrols from both northern
and southern forces made contact
Thursday and by the end of the
week the front was continuous.
with complete communication be-
tween both forces.
Cisterna was captured Friday and
yesterday American tank units were
slowly pushing the enemy out of
Velletri, only 16 miles south of Rome
and considered strong point on the
'last-ditch" line defending the capi-
tai. The Americans in Cisterna
moved forward an additional miles
yesterday and the Vichy radio broad
cast the information that Rome will
not be defended, the Nazis electing
to take up positions behind a new
and strong defense line north of the
city, which is sufficiently vague to1
apply even to long retreat north
ward.
Swarms of Allied planes kept up
devastating attack on all Nazi
communications. Several trains
were smashed, roads and bridges de-
stroyed and over period of three
days, $500 vehicles were wrecked.
The stage seemed set for dramatic
developments in the very near
future.
War of Nerves.
Wednesday Winston Churchill, in
an 85-minute discussion of the war
before Parliament, declared that it
is improbable that Turkey will enter
the war, but that it is certain Ger
many will be defeated in the Balkans
and Southeastern Europe anyway
and that failure of Turkey to come
IN can have no effect other
than a slight delay in attaining the
ultimate victory. At the same time
Mr.. Churchill suddenly came to the
defense of Spain and her right to
her own internal policies.
Hitler, recalling Churchill's state
ment some weeks ago that there
will be many feints and diversions
before the main attack hits the
Nazis, may wonder if the comment
on Turkey means the reverse and
that Turkey will soon come in. He
may wonder If the sudden approval,
or defense at least, of Spain may
mean that Spain might be an ave-
nue OF approach to contact with
Hitler's main forces. President
Roosevelt's statement Friday that
the invasion will come "this
summer might also puzzle the
Fuehrer, who may suspect an effort
to lure him into a feeling of tenn
porary security, making a sudden
attack more effective.
A new phase in the war of nerves
seems to have opened.
Air War Speeded.
The air warfare against Germany
was carried on with expanded fury
most of the week.
Opening the weeks campaign
Sunday nearly 5000 fighter planes
struck at every moving vehicles or
piece OF transport seen in Western
Germany, employing cannon and
machine guns to cripple German
ability to move troops behind the
lines.
Sunday night the British dropped
$500 tons of bombs on the impor-
tant port of DuiSburg, a veteran city
Of 81 attacks. This was followed
Monday by double -barreled Ameri-
can assault on the submarine base
at Kiel and the Pas-de- Calais area
NT