ITALIAN FLEET

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

ITALIAN FLEET

MORE SHIPS REACH ALLIED PORTS

DESTROYERS AND SUBMARINES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11 p.m.)

LONDON, Sept. 14.

It is officially stated that 27 Italian destroyers have now been accounted for and that 19 submarines have reached or are due to arrive at Allied ports. The Italian fleet is scrupulously honouring the engagement entered into by the Italian Government. ■A correspondent at Malta says that 27 Italian surface warships are now at Malta, and all of Italy’s eight battle* ships have been accounted for. Reuter’s correspondent at Malta says that the fifth Italian battleship, to have arrived is the Guilio Cesare (23,622 tons), The Guilio Cesare steamed from Venice. The Conte di Cavour, a sister ship, is believed to be the only battleship not in Allied hands. She was undergoing extensive repairs at Trieste. Reuter’s correspondent adds that 41 Italian warships are now in Allied ports, including 39 at Malta. Four Italian submarines and a 5000-ton merchantman arrived yesterday. A message from Madrid says that two Italian destroyers ■ have left Majorca, but five other warships, comprising a cruiser, destroyers, and gunboats, have been interned for overstaying the 24 hours for which they had permission to remain in the harbour. “We have trusted their word implicitly,’’ says a correspondent at Malta, referring to the position of the Italian fleet. “There is no physical reason to prevent the whole fleet bombarding Malta at this moment. "What will happen to the fleet has not yet been revealed, but there does not appear to be any intention of asking any of the officers or crews to leave the ships. The fleet is flying thered, white, and green flag of Italy, and it is under the command of an Italian admiral, acting under the direction of Admiral Cunningham. "As far as can be seen, the fleet will act like any Allied fleet in the Mediterranean. There are four Italian admirals with the fleet, the senior being Admiral de Zara, who is in the battleship Caio Duiiio. Some of the Italian ships took wounded from the Roma, the battleship sunk by the Germans, to North Africa before entering Valetta. “The powerful British fleet which escprted the Italian fleet to Malta remained in the harbour during the week-end, and the assembly of battleships and cruisers was probably one of the greatest seen during the war. Naval honours were paid to the Italian fleet throughout, and the British crews appeared in the ’rig of the day,’ that is, white shirts and shorts instead of the usual rough khaki working clothes.” Two Italian aircraft, the first to escape from the Germans, have arrived in the Middle East, says a correspondent in Cairo. Both were complete with their crews of six. They are threeengined aeroplanes and almost brand new. The Italian crew of the first aircraft posed laughingly for their photographs on a beach.

The Italian captain of one aeroplane said that relations between the Italian air crews and ground staffs and their German counterparts had been unbearable for a long time. There was open friction which often came to blows, and orders from senior officers would be disobeyed by a junior of the opposite nationality. “We were sick of it all,” he adddd.

NEW FASCIST GOVERNMENT

“NOW CONTROLLED BY

MUSSOLINI”

COMMENT ON GERMAN MOVES

(R ec. 11.20 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 14. The Berlin radio has announced that the Fascist National Government founded in Mussolini’s name is now under his direct control. It added that other leading Fascists were freed with Mussolini; and the Dutch radio says that Vittorio Mussolini has arrived in Germany. According to the Algiers radio, Mussolini is now on his way to Hitler’s' headquarters.

“It is believed in London,” says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Evening Standard,” “that, the report that the Germans had freed Mussolini is true. It was not a condition of the armistice that Marshal Badoglio should hand Mussolini over to the Allies, but it was the intention of the Allies to try Mussolini, with Hitler and other war cfiminals, when the war is won. “Hitler’s latest move is considered in London as a bold stroke from which he is bound to gain considerable prestige in satellite and neutral countries.”

The “Daily Mail,” in a leading article, says: "It is wrong to treat the rescue of Mussolini as unimportant and regard it as a comic episode. The German Government has shown itself to be still capable of the swift action which once paralysed Europe. Even now, it is worthy of emulation. From our point of view, this development should be taken very seriously. It shows that the Germans are reacting energetically to the situation in Italy, and that Hitler is by noi means disposed to abandon Axis interests and ideology in that country.” Members of Hitler’s personal bodyguard and parachute troops under the command of an Austrian Storm Troop leader rescued Mussolipi “from an almost inaccessible” mountain fastness in southern Italy, declares the Berlin radio.

It adds: “The plan to free Signor Mussolini was prepared with the greatest difficulty. The Badoglio Government tried to keep Signor Mussolini’s whereabouts a secret by using extraordinary measures’ designed to hide every trace of II Duce. His place of confinement was changed several times after July 25. He was taken to prison, then to a barracks, then to islands, and even aboard warships, every few days, and the task of guarding him was entrusted to large military units, which were changed regularly. Carabinieri formed'the nucleus of .the guard, with orders to shoot Signor Mussolini if anyone attempted to rescue him.

"His latest prison was discoyered within the last few days. He had been taken to an almost inaccessible massif, where he was held prisoner in shameful conditions and with extra guards, preparatory to being handed over to the British. The speed with which the rescuers worked did not enable the guard to put ip a fight. Signor Mussolini was rushed to the nearest German aerodrome, from which a fast aeroplane took him to safety. Herr Hitler has conferred high honours qn the rescuers who carried out this daring operation.” The Berlin radio added that Mussolini for many years has suffered from a gastric disease, which has grown worse in the last few months. Immediately after his release, Mussolini telephoned Hitler. Mussolini’s family later joined him, having been released from captivity by soecial detachments of Black Guards.

A German overseas radio commentator said that Mussolini is now in a big city. “II Duce is very exhausted by t.is hard experiences during his six weeks’ imprisonment.” he said. After preliminary questions have been settled, Signor Mussolini will form a gov eminent from among the most capable and energetic leading Fascists who arc able to escape. II Duce is reviewing the question of choosing a town in northern Italy as the provisional capital of the Fascist Government.”