RUSHING SOUTH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 219, 15 September 1943, Page 3

RUSHING SOUTH

70 NAZI DIVISIONS

To France, Northern Italy

And Balkans

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Sept. 14

About 70 German divisions are being transferred with all speed from all parts of the Continent to Southern France, Northern Italy and the Balkans, says the Daily Mail correspondent in Madrid. The whole Continental railway system is straining every effort to rush German reinforcements, tanks, planes and equipment, as a reserve against an expected Allied onslaught at various places.

French railway experts said that civilian traffic had been reduced to one-tenth of its former scale and, judging from the programme of miliary trains. Germany must be moving at least 70 divisions. French Guerillas Active It is believed that the gigantic move will take at least six weeks, adds the correspondent. German guards are watching the French portion of the railway system continuously as a precaution against sabotage. However, the British United Press correspondent on the French frontier says that French guerillas have cut the railway line connecting France and Northern Italy between Aiguebelle and Chamousset, 20 miles from Chambery. The line has been blown up for 1300 yards and the rail service to Italy will be held up for a considerable time.

This correspondent also reports that sabotage of the French harvest continues unabated.

The German occupation of Northern Italy apparently is almost complete. Reports from the Italian frontier state that German troops moved in on the Italian garrison a few hours after the; terms of the armistice were announced early on Sunday. In many cases the Germans entered Italian quarters at night and disarmed the sleeping Italians. All communications were systematically cut and ammunition dumps, arsenals and other military stores seized, according to plan.

Italians Resisted Bravely

The Italians, although outnumbered, resisted bravely in many cases, but the Germans often smashed into the barracks by driving tanks through the walls. The Germans are reported to be in control of the Italian end of the Simplon Pass. Some Italian units escaped to the mountains. German-controlled Oslo radio says a Communist rebellion in Milan and Turin assumed alarming proportions for a time, but it was suppressed with bloodshed by German troops co-operating with Italian Fascist units.

Rome radio admits that irresponsible elements opposed German troops in Rome, but says order has been re-established. It issues a warning that persons found in possession of arms after to-morrow will be executed.