GERMAN HOLD ON WAR-WEARY ITALY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 35, 11 February 1943, Page 5

GERMAN HOLD ON WAR-WEARY ITALY

PEACE IMPOSSIBLE Before Allied Invasion Of Continent N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright Rec. 11 a.m. NEW YORK, Feb. 10. Political and military specialists in Washington, commenting on reported Italian peace feelers by way of the Vatican, consider that the Italians are unable to get out of the war since Italy is practically a German prisoner, reports the New York Times Washington correspondent, Harold Callender.

The Italians are believed to be bitter toward the Germans. They realise that the Axis cannot win, but they are unable to extricate themselves without the help of an Allied invasion of the Continent.

' Italy has become a thoroughfare for the German Army and a series of advance Luftwaffe bases. Many German divisions are theoretically passing through Italy, but are unable to cross to Tunisia because of the shipping shortage. Their presence on Italian soil guarantees Italy's continued belligerency and prevents an anti-Fascist revolt. There is no confirmation m Washington of reports from London that the Pope has asked Britain and America to regard Rome as an open city, but it is generally recognised that Rome will not be bombed, especially since the entry of the Americans into the war, because of widespread opposition in the United States and Latin America to bombing the capital of the Catholic world and the home of the Pope.