UNREST IN ITALY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23446, 29 September 1941, Page 5

UNREST IN ITALY

“SITUATION BECOMING CRITICAL” DEVELOPMENTS SAID TO BE IMMINENT (Received September 28, 10 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, September 28. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Sunday Express,’’ writing under a streamer heading. “Italy on eve of break-up,’’ says that information from the Italian frontier foreshadows imminent developments of the utmost importance. “The situation in Italy is becoming critical,” the correspondent writes. ‘‘Mussolini knows that his throne is falling. The whole of Italy is waiting for the end of Fascism. “There is serious rioting in Milan and Turin, and the Germans have been obliged to take over complete control of the area. Industrial sabotage is on a terrific scale. The great Fiat works has been practically put out of action as a result uf sabotage and British raiding.’’ Courts martial in northern Italy convicted 445 Italians of sabotaging war material, according to reports reaching Switzerland. Courts have been established at Milan and Trieste to deal with saboteurs and defeatists whose numbers are reported to be growing as hunger increases the war weariness of the Italian civilian population. A British war prisoner released under the Syrian armistice terms says he received the impression while in an Italian hospital that the doctors, nurses, and guards with the British cause. They considered the war Germany’s affair, not theirs. Duke of .Aosta Released The Duke of Aosta, the former Italian Viceroy in Abyssinia and Com-mander-in-Chief of the Italian forces there, who surrendered to the British Commandcr-in-Chief in East Africa (General Sir Alan Cunningham) has been released on parole, and is now in Rome, states a French report which is quoted by the “Daily Express.’’ The report of his release follows persistent suggestions that a powerful section of the Fascist Party is trying to break with Germany and make a separate peace with England. The “Daily Express” links with the report of the Duke’s release a Swiss message that Italian secret police murdered Dr. Cavaldo Sebastiani, a former personal secretary to Mussolini. The official account of Dr. Sebastiani’s death stated that he was killed in an aeroplane crash. The “Frankfurter Zeitung” hints that more German troops may be moved into Italy; It states: “Italy’s position to-day is Germany’s business. Our troops must give Italy the necessary support as England is probably preparing to strike at Italy in the near future. Italy is preparing for a long war.” BREAD RATIONING IN ITALY PRESENT WHEAT CROP INSUFFICIENT (Received September 28, 9 p.m.) ROME, September 27. The rationing of bread will begin on October 1. The ration will be 7oz daily. This was announced after a meeting of Cabinet. A supplementary ration of 3£oz daily will be allowed to workers generally, with a further 3Joz for those engaged in particularly arduous labour. Mussolini stated that the wheat crop was insufficient to cover the needs of the Italian population and that in occupied territories. i , VICHY GOVERNMENT’S PROTEST JAPANESE ACTION IN INDOCHINA LONDON, September 26. The Vichy Government has sent a protest to Japan against violation of French sovereignty in French IndoChina. Under the agreement with Japan, French sovereignty was to be respected and Vichy has now made a vigorous protest because of Japanese violation of the terms. The Japanese are said to have carried out a search of houses in Saigon, Hanoi, and Haiphong, and to have arrested 100 Chinese who they claimed were anti-Japanese, and entered IndoChina secretly before the Japanese occupation. RECALL OF ENVOY . DEMANDED MR DUFF COOPER IN FAR EAST TOKYO, September 27. The “Japan Times-Advertiser” has demanded the recall of Mr A, Duff Cooper, who is representing the British Government on a special mission to the Far East. The newspaper alleges that Mr Duff Cooper has exceeded all his instructions by irritating instead of composing Far Eastern peoples. He would be well advised if the British Government sharply curtails his utterances and manoeuvres. He is parading as a firebrand. 22 DAYS IN OPEN BOATS TEN SURVIVORS FROM STEAMER LISBON, September 27. Ten survivors from the steamer Trinidad, which is reported to have been registered in Panama, have landed in Portugal. They were rescued after 22 days in open boats. The Trinidad was sunk by a U-boat 390 miles north-west of Cape Finisterre. The U-boat is reported to have fired 20 rounds at the ship. NAVY HAS DESTROYED 1000 AIRCRAFT LONDON, September 26. One thousand enemy aircraft had fallen to the guns of the Royal Navy up to August 1, said a naval spokesman in London to-day. Nine hundred men of the merchant navy had died bringing goods and stores to Britain, and behind their deaths lay stories of sacrifice, striving, and tragedy. 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