ITALY’S TENSION

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 270, 10 August 1943, Page 5

ITALY’S TENSION

Demand Of Censored Press NO UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER (By (Telegraph-—Press Assn.—Copyright.* (Received August 9, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, August 9. The peace demonstrations and unrest have increased throughout Italy, in spite of the state of siege and the heavy military rule, according to reports from Italian sources, says the Madrid correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain. Spanish correspondents report that the military censorship of the Italian Press is leaving large and frequent blank spots in the space usually devoted to news of the interior.

The Italian Press is maintaining a unified campaign against unconditional surrender. The Rome correspondent of the Madrid newspaper “A.8.C.” says: “The only peace acceptable to Italy would be one safeguarding the honour and interests of the Italians. Unconditional surrender cannot be counted on.” Rome radio, in an appeal today to the Italian people to stop criticism and avoid discord, quoted an article from the “Corriere della Serra” stating: “Italians, do not complicate with hasty judgments the tremendous tasks the Government has undertaken. Criticisms from the people in these turbulent moments are inopportune and damaging.” Meanwhile, Algiers radio lias broad cast to the Italians: “Milan, Turin and Genoa have had a first taste of the renewed Allied air bombing. Italians, he air lull is over. The ball has started roll ing.” It is reported without confirmation by Ankara radio that Italian and German military leaders are conferring iij central Italy with Herr von Ribbentrop and Dr. Guariglia, the German and Italian Foreign Ministers, taking part. The British United Press correspondent on the Italian frontier says that German military leaders, headed by FieldMarshal von Keitel, commander of the German forces, are holding important military talks with the Italian chief ot staff. General Ambrosio, and his experts at Verona. Result of Raids. According to a report received in Zurich from Rome, negotiations for declaring Rome an open city are proceeding with good prospects of success. The R.A.F. raid on Milan on Saturday changed the city’s face overnight, says a correspondent of a Swiss newspaper. Streets have gone and houses have disappeared, and the population has vanished. Entire areas are in ruins and fenced off. Reuter’s correspondent, on the Italian frontier reports that the raiders dropped leaflets in addition to bombs The mam attack was against the Pirelli, tyre works, where bombs fell on a factory for 20 minutes. Fires were visible from the frontier and they were still burning yesterday.