“GRAPEVINE” IN ITALY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 310, 11 October 1943, Page 2

“GRAPEVINE” IN ITALY.

NEWS OF GERMAN RETREAT. t PEOPLE KNOW MOVES FIRST. SYDNEY, October 1. You can find out more about the war in Italy by watching the Italian people than by watching the troops at the front, writes a “Sydney Morning Herald” Avar correspondent Avith the Fifth Army. Sometimes a patrol passes unchallenged through a mountain village 'without seeing a sign of the enemy. Then the next patrol reports the village is full of Germans, But the Italians always know. The other day, before Ave could be sure of it, Groeco, an Italian peasant, who has been happily doing oiir camp chores, told us confidently that the Germans Avere beginning to Avithdraw. He knew all about it from the village-to-village grapevine through the German lines across no man’s land and into our lines. German soldiers have their Italian “girl friehds,” and ' they tell them when they are on the Avay back. Besides, there is the loading of trucks, the burning of papers and surplus supplies, the moving of guns from emplacements, and all the other things that have to be done AAffien an army is on the move.

Everybody, it seems, now Avants to go to America—the Italians still think the streets of America are paved with gold. Every time our jeep stops our American driver is surrounded by Italian girls who want, to marry him. They are not joking, either, • and I do not think our driver is the handsomest of our party, and he is usually the dustiest and daubed Avith oil as Avell.

Shutters have been taken down from scores more shops as the word filters back of the German retreat, and even a bar is open here and there selling glasses of bitterly dry, neAv Avine, which furs the tongues of the disappointed Tommies. CroAvds of Avomen we have never seen before, in clean, neAVly-pressed print frocks, are strolling on the sunny promenade along the sea front of Salerno.