Evening star., 1944-05-16
MAP on Page A-3.)

MAP on Page A-3)
By the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS
Naples, May 16.-Allied troops
have smashed the last organized
enemy resistance south of the
Liri River and wiped out the
Germans entire front line de-
tense zone there, scoring ad-
vances of 8 to miles since they
opened their full-scale offensive
against the German Gustav Line
last Thursday night.
American troops have overrun
Spigno in the Lower Garigliano VAL
ley. The French in violent attack
have taken Monte Fammera, two
and half miles west of captured
Ausonia and miles north of the
Iyrrhenian seacoast. They threw
back disorganized elements of the
German list Division.
Meanwhile, British and Indian
troops of the 9th Army repulsed a
series of Nazi counterattacks sup
ported by tanks yesterday.
Ground Recovered.
Ground was recovered southwest
Of Casino which the enemy had
managed to regain in a series of vio-
lent thrusts, Allied headquarters
announced.
(The Berlin radio said today
the Germans have evacuated sew
eral heights south of Casino.
THE German-controlled Rome
radio said that Nazi forces sharp
ly counterattacked northwest of
Casino and destroyed 80 Allied
tanks.
(The Rome broadcast &C
knowledged that German forces
had abandoned Mount Maio,
south of Casino and about mid
way between that town and the
Italian west coast)
The bag of prisoners taken since
the start of the offensive rose to
5000 and official Allied reports to-
Gay said the French virtually had
destroyed the 131st infantry regi-
ment of the 44th (Hoch und
Deutschmeister) German Division,
French Pursue Enemy.
The French forces pursued bat
tered and disorganized remnants of
the enemy northward and westward
from the Upper Garigliano Valley.
capturing the important town of
San Giorgio Immediately south of
the Liri River.
This swift thrust put the Allies
In position to flank the whole Ger
man defense system guarding Cas-
sino and facing the 9Th Army's
Rapido brideghead.
The Americans climaxed their
smash from the Lower Garigliano
to the base of the lofty Arunci
Mountains by capturing Spigno.
They also ousted the enemy from
the village of Capo Dacuua and
forged on northwest to win Monte
le Clvita and two hills which are
links in the last enemy defenses in
this area.
Fight RACES for Hill.
Inc Germans counterattacked
farther south and a fight ragged for
possession of Hill 108, with the
enemy holding its western slopes.
Officlal reports said The Ger
mans holding high ground west of
the 5th Army front now are depend
ent on rough mountain trails for
their lines Of communication, but
enemy demolitionS made establish
ment of our lines of communication
likewise difficult"
After winning San Gioreio the
French captured Cresta Santa Lucia
and LIE Forche to the southwest and
IN the area between they seized the
villages OF CaSale, Annunzita and
CaStel NuoVo, cutting the road from
the northwest of Castel Nuovo.
west OF AuSOnia other Frenchmen
puShed the enemy off Monte Cas-
telIo and Monte Fammera.
Nazi Commander Captured.
Gen. Alphonse Juin's troops cap
tured the commander of the 194th
German Grenadier Regiment with
his whole headquarters, including
both battalion commanders. As g
result, this regiment also was con-
sidered eliminated as fighting
force.
Allied naval forces yesterday gave
their support to the ground often.
slve for the fourth successive dav
bombarding heavy concentrations Of
antiaircraft and long-range ARTILLERY
in the hills around Formia and Itr
behind the fighting front where the
5th Army is advancing.
A United States cruiser escorted
by two destroyers carried out E
bombardment May IA, reporting hit.
on two ammunition dumps in the
target area, the Allied oommuniaue
disclosed.
Yesterday a British cruiser ant
two oestroyers pumped 300 round!
into the target areas. There wa,
same erratic retaliatory fire from
enemy shore batteries which caused
no casualties or damage to the AL.
lied force.
Sharp tank and artillery duels a.
well as steady infantry fighting
roared around the British Indiar
(see ITALY, Page ABB