Evening star., 1944-05-24

Terracina, fashioning a po-
tential trap for the Germans
below the beachhead.
BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Ma.
Piles, May 24.-An American ar
mored column smashed through
the German flank on the Rome
side of CiSterna today, immi-
mently threatening that beach
head line stronghold, after
doughboys below the town seized
a mile-long stretch of the his
toric Appian Way to Rome.
Other Americans, vaulting 10
miles through the mountains above
Terracina, seized Monte Alto, only
19 miles east of junction with the
beachhead forces, thus forming a
potential trap for Germans in the
Pontine marshes area between the
beachhead and Terracina.
Allied planes blasted heavily to-
day at Nazi conveys racing along
the escape road from this pocket.
Pincers Closing In.
The American power drive out OF
the beachhead struck forward even
as the huge pincers push from the
east preached the Hitler Line in
the Lin Valley and the center.
A beachhead dispatch from Asso-
ciated Press Correspondent Daniel
de Luce said American armor and
infantry struck today into the Ger
man flank on the Rome or northern
side of Cisterna, threatening the
town where the bitterly fighting
German garrison still has an escape
route to Rome open"
Many prisoners were taken.
In the first day of the new CO.
ordinated assault, the Americans
seized a 2,000-yard stretch of the
Apian Way southeast of Cisterna
and cut the railway to Rome 4
miles below Velletri, Mr.. de Luce
said.
British Cross River.
Meanwhile, their British comrades
crossed the Moletta River farther
west, ramming on into defenses an
choring the Nazi line which so long
compressed the beachhead.
Allied tactical planes, sent full
force against the Germans, destroy
ed at least $50 enemy vehicles and
damaged as many more today, with
ABS dive bombers concentrating on
the road through Priverno, escape
hatch from the pocket above Ter
racina.
The co-ordinated main front
offensive smashed forward, with
Canadians preaching the Hitler
Notifications near Pontecorvo-part
of the formidable line across the
Iiri Valley-while the French won
Pico, pivot point in the mountains
at the center of the front.
CThe German high command
acknowledged major breaches"
or several sectors of the front.)
Situation Potentially Grave.
The Germans situation on the
main front was potentially grave,
especially in the Liri Valley. Their
main supply or retreat route is
highway No. 6 or Via Cssilina, lead
ing from the valley 65 miles to
Rome. The Americans driving out
from the beachhead are only IL
miles from this key road.
nch-American units attacking
north of Pico present a still more
immediate threat of cracking the
Germans facing the 9th Army in the
Liri Valley.
Whatever enemy forces are hold
Ing Terracina and the nearb,
coastal areas at the southern enc
Of the Pontine Marshes, they hav,
only one feasible retreat route;
lateral road through Priverno to
ward Valmontone-and the Ameri
cans who took Monte Alto were las
reported only miles from this road
"A Berlin military commenta-
tor declared the Allies "staked
everything on one card" trying to
link up their main and Anzio
forces. He admitted only slight
advances by the Allied push
north OF Terracina toward the
beachhead. His broadcast assert
eo that the attempt to unhinge
German defenses at Pontecorvo
and Piedimonte In the Liri Valley
sector had been frustrated with
heaVy losses. Allied artillery fire
In the new attacks was "of
unprecedented fierceness," he
added
The French captured Pico afte
prolonged and bitter fighting
smashing German tank counter
attacks. From this stronghold the,
were driving deep into the flank O
the haro-presSed Nazi defenders O
Hitler Line frontal positions in tn,
Liri Valley.
Nazis Driven From Lenola.
Farther south, other units Of T.,
Gen. Mark w. Clark's forces hurled
the enemy out of Lenola, which i
on a vital lateral road runnin,
north through Vale Corsa towar,
Frosinone. Both Pico and Lenol,
fell Monday.
Official reports said:
Tanning out in a generally north
eastern direction our troops within
few hours drove spearheads up tc
1000 yards into the enemy's strong
ly held fortified positions. Armor
led the way In several places.
"1nfantrymen ran into extensiv,
mine fields, mazes of wire and mum
bers of strong points. but kept press
(See ITALY, Page A-40