FIGHTING IN PO VALLEY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 307, 22 September 1943, Page 7

FIGHTING IN PO VALLEY

Success For Italians TOWN TAKEN FROM GERMANS (By Telegraph.—Press Aftsn.—Copyright.) (Received September 21, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, September 21. , j’teinnnnls of the Fourth Italian Army in northern Italy, whose ranks have been swollen by thousands of workers and dissident Italian regulars, are successfully fighting in the I’o Valley, where, according to the latest reports from the frontier, they have captured from the Germans the town of Carmagnola, between Turin and Cuneo, says the Berne correspondent of the the “New York Times.” Attempts by the Germans to strengthen their garrisons from France have been greatly hampered by sappers of the Fourth Army, who blew up tunnels and strategic roads, completely blocking the communication lines. Dissidents elsewhere in the Po Valley wiped out two German alpine companies, which were ambushed in a narrow valley. Heavy lighting is continuing.

ITALIAN WAR ON ■ GERMANS Call By (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 20. Marshal Badoglio broadcast to the Italian nation today. “After a threc-year stuggle Italy concluded the armistice because war was imposed on Italy by the Germans without taking into account our interest and because it cost us only hard sacrifices, he said. , „ “We must resist firmly the German occupation. Remember that you must see in every German an enemy.” “Remember that it is a crime to let yourselves be disarmed. Remember that men who are well guided can hold a much superior force. Remember that when troops form one solid block, one form, and one force they are invincible.

“Remember that it is up to our troops and our population to carry on terrible guerrilla warfare. Go into the woods and cut communications, blow up bridges and stores, destroy their material, and cut oft isolated men. Above all. do not give in and do not lose heart. Hold on. Keep this in mind today. Resistance means existence. To achieve this just and lasting peace which we desire and which the British and Americans will give us and which the Germans want to deny ns, this trial must be faced and overcome. We shall overcome it.

“We cannot allow the Germans to treat our country as occupied territory, destroy our towns, and drag our brothers and sisters away to Germany. We cannot allow the Germans to loot our homes, steal our property, kill our soldiers and workers, and insult our women. So much blood has been shed in this war. which was willed by the Germans and has 'been waged by them exclusively in their interests, that we cannot allow ourselves to be looked upon and treated as slaves. Germans and “Honour.’

“Today there is only one order of the day for all of us: ‘Out with the Germans.’ How dare the Germans speak of honour, when they deserted our divisions on the Don. in Libya, in Tunisia, and in Calabria. The British and Americans, our old comrades in arms, have not hesitated to declare that their ultimate aim is the resurrection of a strong and united I'taly.” Suggesting that King Victor Emmanuel may formally declare war against Germany, thus 'bringing his armed forces fully to the side of the Allies, the “Daily Express” political writer says that an offer to do so was rejected during the Lisbon approaches because the Allied leaders insisted on unconditional surrender first. The general attitude of the Italian Army (states British Official Wireless) seems at present to be rather confused. Unlike the navy, the army as a whole has never received direct orders from the commander-in-chief to lay down its arms, or if such an order was issued it failed to reach many units. Where the Germans hold the upper hand they are disarming Italians as rapidly as possible, demobilizing them, and leaving them to their own devices. Thousands of these soldiers are now making their way to their homes in various parts of Italy, and others are making their way to Alliedhcld territory to offer their services. Many Planes Arrive.

A large number of Italian t aircraft have landed at various Allied airfields in the Mediterranean area, says an announcement from the XlHed headquarters. Aiany took off from German-controlled aerodromes. The pilots all expressed willingness to re-enter the war against the Germans. The Italian submarine Ammiraglio Cagni has surrendered at Durban. She is the first Italian warship to surrender in those waters. Before surrendering the submarine sent a message to the naval authorities’stating: “I shall arrive this morning in Dunban. harbour according to the armistice —submariue Cagni.”_ She is believed to have been operating in the Indian Ocean.

The Italian Minister iu Dublin, in a statement tonight, said that the Italian Minister and staff of the Dublin reaffirmed their allegiance to King Victor Emmanuel and their loyalty to his Govermnent.