ITALY PREPARES FOR INVASION

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23943, 10 May 1943, Page 5

ITALY PREPARES FOR INVASION

STATEMENT BY ROME RADIO

MUSSOLINI SUMMONS CABINET (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. The Rome radio announced that Mussolini had summoned a meeting of the Italian Cabinet. Observers believe that the meeting was called to discuss plans to meet a possible early invasion of Europe. "All the southern coast of France from the Spanish frontier to the Maritime Alps has been formidably equipped for defence,” says the Rome radio. “Italy has placed herself in a position to take all necessary steps to face up to eventualities. If the enemy attempts to invade the European Continent he will come up against something so dangerous as to surpass any allowances he might have made for our defences.”

The "Evening Standard” says: “A large force of picked German troops has arrived on the Cote d’Azur in Southern France to replace the Italian occupation troops. All hotels and private villas must be closed within 24 hours, and the ponulation evacuated by the week-end’” The "Evening Standard” quotes General Ramcke, who was formerly with Marshal Rommel, as saying: "I have seen the extraordinary strength of the Bth Army, which must be considered one of the best fighting units. I share Marshal Rommel’s opinion that the Bth Army has been chosen to launch an attack against the Continent. The Bth Army’s inactivity is explicable if it is because of preparations for an invasion.”

The Berlin radio quoted a Foreign Office spokesman as sayjng that whatever the outcome of the Battle of Tunisia, it would have no decisive influence on the is-ue of the war. Sombre music replaced the usual political commentary after the reading of the Italian communique over the Rome radio. TREMENDOUS AIR ATTACK BATTERING OF AXIS DEFENCES LONDON. May 7. In the big push towards Tunis the Allied air forces gave the enemy the biggest battering he has ever received. A slice of territory four miles long and 1000 yards deep was hammered from dawn until 9.30 a.m. Then the bombers left off for a while, and fighters came in to shoot up retreating enemy vehicles and troops. After the pause the bombers came again, keeping up their attacks for nine hours. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says that four aeroplanes a minute bombed and strafed the enemy positions for nine hours. The sorties were the largest number flown in a single day—2soo from dusk on May 5 to dusk on May 6, and there were still aircraft to spare.

The Associated Press says that this thunderous air blow was co-ordinated with the largest infantry and tank attack the Allies have launched in the war—even exceeding that of El Alamein.

It was a gigantic peppering of bombs, with the explosions planted so tightly together that there could not have’ been many yards of the surface untouched, says the Air Ministry News Service. The Royal Air Force and American flyers of the Tactical Air Force had their biggest day on record. The British soldiers had never seen anything like it. A Royal Air Force officer watched the effect of this field of fire from a hill just west of Massicault, while wave after wave of bombers went over. He said: “The ground troops were unable' to restrain their enthusiasm and came running across from their trucks to shake me by the hand and say. ‘By God, what a show?’ ” The hill on which the officer stood was three or four miles west of the Germans. He saw the bombers go over while the British Army advanced without the slightest hindrance. •

ORDER OF DAY TO FRENCH

GIRAUD’S TRIBUTE TO ALLIES

tßec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. General Giraud, leader of the French forces In North Africa, issued a special order of the day to his men to mark the great double victory. "On Joan of Arc’s Day, Tunis has been liberated and Bizerte set free,” he said.

"Honour to the British arms. Honour to the United States arms. And honour to the Frenchmen who, without arms, without clothes, and without boots, fought and believed in victory!” The order concluded with the words: “Forward to victor” ” General 1 Giraud. thanking General Eisenhower for equipment delivered to the French forces at Algiers, this afternoon said: “We want only one thing—the liberation of France. We have but one rule—to serve France. We have but one ideal—our love for France. And we have only one meeting point —under the flag of France, the flag of liberty. . , . ~ “To-day the promise made by the United States and Britain is fulfilled. When the first Allied convoy landed in North Africa they brought us new tope. To-day’s ceremony will give new cheer to the people of the Motherland, who await us so anxiously.” MESSAGE FROM M. STALIN CONGRATULATIONS ON VICTORY (Rcc 10 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. The Moscow radio broadcast throughout the Soviet the following message from M. Stalin to Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt; “I congratulate you and the glorious British and American troops on the magnificent victory which has freed Tunis and Bizerte from Hitler’s tyranny. I wish you further successes.” Russia, like the rest of the Allied world, is greeting the news from Tunisia with excitement and pleasure. The Red Army newspaper ‘‘Red Star” says: “The victorious Allies have crowned their successes in Africa by a brilliantly executed operation. The forthcoming blows from our Allies on the Continent, jointly with further blows from the Red Army, will provide the final destruction of the common foe.”

“Izvestia,” in a leading article, says: “The Allies have shown great skill and bravery and a high degree of organisation. The mighty and decisive utilisation of this brilliant achievement is the task of the very near future.’’

AXIS “DUNKIRK” ATTEMPT

TROOP LADEN BARGES SUNK LONDON, May 7. The British United Press correspondent in Algiers says that Allied aeroplanes tore into a convoy of motorbarges and small craft, making a “Dunkirk” bid from Tunisia. Ten craft jammed with troops were sunk. It was the first big Axis attempt to stage a “Dunkirk.” The convoy was spotted about 30 miles w’est of the Maritime Islands, off the Tunisian coast, heading for Sicily. Every boat was packed with troops. Lightnings sank three motor-barges and four small craft. Marauders sank three motor-barges