GRIP ON NORTH ITALY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24053, 15 September 1943, Page 5

GRIP ON NORTH ITALY

GERMAN CONTROL EXTENDED

“BADOGUO ARMY NOW DISARMED ”

(Rec. 10.20 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 14. The German occupation of northern Italy is apparently almost complete. Reports from the Italian frontier say that German troops moved in on Italian garrisons a few hours after the terms of the armistice were announced early on Sunday. In many cases they 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. In many cases the Italians, although outnumbered, resisted bravely, but the Germans often smashed the barracks by driving tanks through the walls. The Germans are reported to control the Italian end of the Simplon Pass. Some Italian units have escaped to the mountains.

The German-controlled Oslo padio declares that a Communist rebellion in Milan and Turin assumed alarming proportions for a time, but was suppressed bloodily by German troops, cooperating with Italian Fascist units. The Rome radio says that irresponsible elements opposed the German troops in Rome, but order has now been re-established. The radio gave a warning that persons found in possession of arms after to-morrow would be executed.

A German High Command communique says that the disarming of the Badoglio army has been completed, and that the • number of disarmed soldiers exceeds 500,000. The German communique adds: “A growing number of Italian Army units, particularly formations of the Fascist Militia in Italy, southern France, and the Balkans, have declared their willingness to continue to fight at Germany’s side. The entire eastern coast of the Adriatic, including Pola harbour, is now in German hands.” The Berlin radio said that German motorised units entered Tirana on Friday. The Italians there laid down their arms under the orders of their commander. Important Albanian towna,i,airflelds, mountain roads, and all positions vital for defence are |in German hands. \ German Troop Movements “OVer 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 of the Continental railway system is straining every effort to rush German reinforcements, tanks, aeroplanes, and equipment as a reserve against expected Allied onslaughts at various places. “French railway experts have revealed that civilian traffic has been reduced to one-tenth, and judging from 'the programme of military trains Germany must be moving at least 70 divisions. It is believed that this gigantic move will take at least six weeks.”

The correspondent adds that German guards are watching the French portion of the railway system continuA’»ly as a precaution against sabotage. The British United Press correspondent on the French frontier, however, reports that French guerrillas in Savoie have cut the railway line connecting France and northern Italy between Aiguebelle and Chamousset. Thirteen hundred yards of the line jvere blown up. The . rail service to Italy will be held up for a considerate time. This correspondent also reports that Sabotage of the French harvest continues.