The Russians aren't the only ones who like to quantify their gains. I am working on the Oct. 4 post and noticed this:
According to official German High Command figures broadcast from Berlin today, German troops withdrawing to [censored - HJS] took with them "106,000 head of cattle, 110,000 sheep, 60,000 horses and 62,000 Russian civilians."
On the one hand, the far south was ripe for picking. It was a natural extension of our Sicily campaign and we had the troops there. Knocking one of the Axis powers out and taking its capital would boost morale on our side and diminish on the other. We will tie down units that otherwise would be available for duty in Russia or France.
On the other hand, it makes little tactical sense to go up the boot the hard way, just to get to the Po Valley. We would still be separated from Austria and Germany by the Alps. The tactically sound way to try it would be by a serious of end arounds, like Patton did in Sicily, but after the Anzio fiasco all sealift will be sent to Britain. It was a long and costly campaign that ultimately did little to end the war.