Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-06-01
One u. S. Salient
Gains " Miles
In AIbun Hills
MAP on Page A-4.J

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS,
Naples, June /. - American
doughboys have driven a deep
wedge into the enemy's Valmon-
tone Line, occupying strategic
high points in the historic Alban
Hills northeast and northwest of
Velletri, and are now fighting
within sight of Rome.
"a CHS broadcast from Bern
said Rome residents could see
the smoke and flashes of battle
through binoculars and tele-
scopes, with the fighting SO near
that cannons, firing with the
frequency of machine guns,
caused the houses of Rome to
tremble and the windows to
rattle continuously throughout
the day and night.")
The advances were won against
the strongest kind of German re-
sistance, an Allied communique
said today. One salient carried the
Americans forward nearly 5000
yards--more than mile and q
half.
The Allied command was silent on
Velletri itself, but German radio re-
ports indicated the shell and bomb
battered town had been left to the
Americans after hot street fighting.
British Take Frosinone.
Meanwhile, the 9th Army, advance
ing steadily up Highway 6--the Via
Casilina-captured Frosinone, prov
incial capital 81 miles by road from
Rome. Frosinone. with a popula-
ton Of more than 10000, is the
most important town and commu-
nications center yet seized in the
drive along Highway s. It fell to
British infantry and armor after a
sharp battle.
Allied headquarters reported to-
night that the Germans were fall
ing back along Highway beyond
FroSinone.
A dispatch from Associated Press
War Correspondent Edward KEN
nedy said the Americans broke
through the German defenses east
Of Velletri and fought their way
ahead 5000 yards and occupied q
point on Mount Peschio Ridge in
the Aiban Hills to the northeast.
Other American elements plunge
ing forward In the vicinity of the
Appian Way captured dominant
high ground near the Lake Of Nemi
northwest of Velletri.
This latter gain brought the 5th
Army to is airline miles from
Rome's gate of st. John Lateran
through which the Appian WAY
enters the capital" Mr.. Kennedy
wrote.
From these heights the American
infantrymen could see st. Peters
famous dome rising in dim lines
from hazy mass of buildings which
formed Rome.
Limited but Important" Gains.
The 5th Army gains from VAL
montone to the Tyrrhenian coast
were officially described as "limited
but important"
Three miles west of the fortified
town of Lanuvio armored units
crossed the Fossa di Campoleone. a
drainage canal, and maintained
steady pressure on the enemy in
mat area interlaced with canals and
bitches.
An official spokesman said all the
gains in the Lanuvio sector were
made in difficult terrain against
such enemy strongholds as dugouts.
concrete pilboxes and antitank gun
emplacements. The enemy had con-
centrated self-propelled artillery
east of Lanuvio.
Nazi Marshal Albert Kesserling
continued to Increase his defensive
forces in the Valmontone area to
keep Highway open for German
remnants fleeing from the lower
battle sectors. 1t was officially an
nounced that the Allies made some
gains in that area despite the stub
born resistance.
The enemy stepped up the pace of
his retreat out of the mountain area
where the 5th Army's French troops
have been moving northward from
the Pontine Marsh area.
French Drive Northward.
French units marched northward
from Carpineto and the last Nazi
defenders fled from the Lepini Hills,
which had been a bulwark guard
ing the Via Casilina from the south.
Other French advanced four miles
and occupied the village of Pat
ricia, 6l2 miles southwest of Frost
none, and Monte Pisciarella, the
same distance southwest of Feren-
tina.
French troops are maintaining
contact with German rearguard de-
tachments falling back toward VAL
montone and AveZzano, where it is
deemed almost certain that a de-
fensive stand will be made" an Off
clal announcement said.
Eighth Army troops occupied the
town of Sora, northeast of Frosinone
and IS miles up Highway 80 from it's
junction with Highway at Arce.
Sora fell to column of New Zea-
landers driving toward Avezzano, "a
miles beyond.
The British also overran the towns
OF Ripi, miles southeast of Frost
none, and Torrice, miles to the
east-both above Highway 6.
San Giovanni, miles northwest
OF Arce, was taken as the 9th Army
mopped up the last enemy positions
near the junction of the Liri and
Sacco Rivers.
Mnn (hnukc M1xn;.