ITALY’S RULERS DENOUNCED

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24206, 14 March 1944, Page 5

ITALY’S RULERS DENOUNCED

DEMONSTRATION AT NAPLES

ADMINISTRATIVE PURGE DEMANDED

(N.Z, Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON. March 12. Speakers representing the Action, Socialist, and Communist Parties, addressing 5000 demonstrators at Naples, were cheered when they denounced the King of Italy and Marshal Badoglio. Cheers for Britain and the United States, which are customary at such demonstrations, were omitted, says Reuter's correspondent at Naples. i References to Russia brought tumultuous applause. The leaders on the platform included a priest giving the Communist salute, and a retired briga-dier-general who was cheered. The “Italian Republic" demonstration, which originally was called to replace the forbidden 10-minute strike as a protest against Mr Churchill’s statement that the present Italian administration was the best available until Rome was reached, passed a resolution declaring that the Italians’ ardent desire was to intensify the war effort alongside the Allies against Nazism and Fascism. The resolution added that a call to arms would be successful only if it was accompanied by an effective purge of the State administration of all dynastic persons and collaborators. A Communist speaker said that 150,000 partisans were fighting against Nazism and Fascism.

BAD WEATHER IN ITALY

LOW CLOUD AND RAIN (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. Yesterday was a day of heavy rain and low cloud in Italy. Allied artillerymen in the beachhead at Anzio were the only troops active. Their fire was officially described as heavy. Allied air activity was limited to 300 sorties. The targets were communications points in the area of the beachhead and Rome, and enemy shipping along the Italian coasts. All the Allied aircraft returned. One enemy aeroplane was destroyed. There was no enemy air activity over the battle areas. Soggy ground has prevented any major operations, but bigger clashes are expected soon. The highlight of Saturday’s news was the capture of an enemy strongpoint and the taking of a number of prisoners in the Littoria sector of the beachhead. At the other end of the front, in the Carroceto area, patrols had a number of clashes with the enemy. The Bari radio says that Allied reinforcements, under cover of artillery, continue to land on the Anzio beachhead.

“Large-scale land operations, which have been impossible in Italy recently owing to the bad weather, may soon again be practicable, with clearer weather after a succession of showery days,’’ says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters. . The Rome radio, for the first time since the Italian collapse, has broadcast a communique from what was described as the headquarters of the Republican armed forces. The communique claimed that Italian torpedo-carry-ing aircraft went into action for the first time and hit a 7000-ton ship off Nettuno. Italian pilots, it said, shot down 11 Allied aircraft.

APPEAL FOR PEACE

POPE SPEAKS TO WORLD

PLEA FOR SPARING OF ROME LONDON, March 12. A plea for the sparing of Rome and an appeal lo the belligerents to turn their thoughts to peace was made by the Pope in a world-wide broadcast. The Pope addressed a large crowd m St. Peter's Square on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of his election. During his address, which was made from the balcony of St, Peter’s and which was broadcast by the Vatican radio, the Pope said; "You are gathered around us to hear from our lips that all your sufferings are our sufferings. We did foresee the disastrous consequences of war, and our faith has helped us lo bear all our grief and suffering. There has been no effort spared to save our people from the horrors of war. Even so, in the martyred city of Rome, the sufferings arc daily increasing.

"The war has not spared any of the capitals of Europe, but our Rome belongs to the whole world and the whole Christian faith. How can I possibly turn this immortal city into a battlefield? Those who would turn Rome into a battlefield would forever bear a curse. Such an act would not be excused at Ihe bar of history. We again appeal to both belligerents to turn their thoughts to peace." Tremendous cheering at this point drowned the Pope’s words. His Holiness added: “In this particularly grave hour, when the much battered city of Rome is stained with the blood of its citizens, we again pray, indeed, we implore all who have the means at their disposal to come to <nn aid. We ask all who can make an effective contribution to relieve our suffering.*’

Referring to the air war, the Pope said: “I know well that cities are attacked by methods which know no law. I could never have believed that Rome would be involved in actual hostilities. Nevertheless, the whole impact of the aerial warfare comes down on the city daily. These raids, which from a military standpoint are inglorious, are morally indefensible. I ask those responsible on both sides to put an end to such cruel deeds."

The crowd waited in the square where the Palatine Guard had been drawn up for several hours before the appointed time for the address. The Pope’s appearance was heralded by the ringing of the bells of all the churches in Rome,

TURKISH NEWSPAPER SUSPENDED (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 12. The newspaper “Tan.” one of the best-known pro-A!!!cd newspapers in Turkey, has been suspended indefinitely. _ _