Cassino to the Alps - US Army Center Of Military History

426 CASSINO TO THE ALPS
ground dominating a ten-mile section
of Highway 64. Averaging about 3,800
feet in height, the objective consisted of
a series of mountain peaks and ridges
aixmt five miles west of the highway.
From it the Germans had excellent
observation over a large section of
Highway 64 and into the American
positions east of the Reno River. In
American hands, the terrain would provide
observation almost as far as the Po
Valley, about twenty miles away. North
of Vergato the terrain, though still
mountainous, descends gradually to-
SKI PATROL, 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION
ward Highway 9 and the Lombardy
Plain. Inherent in General Truscott's
concept {cx the limited objective operation
was the possibility of an eventual
westward shih of the main axis of the
Fifth Army's spring offensive into the
Po Valley. IS
In early February the 10th Mountain
Division held positions in the valley of
the Silla River not far from its confluence
with the Reno River, through
1BOpns Instr No.4, Hq Fifth Army, 16 Feb 45, in
Fifth Army History, Part VIII, ann. I.