BY AIR TO ITALY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 256, 26 July 1944, Page 5

BY AIR TO ITALY

His Majesty’s Visit To Troops KEPT A SECRET (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, July 24. King George arrived in Italy by air ’■today on what is officially described as a visit to units of the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Air Force, and also of the Dominion and Allied forces. Flying in a Royal Air Force Transport Command plane, His Majesty left Britain on Saturday, arrived in North Africa on Sunday, and went on to Naples after three hours’ rest. He was received at Naples airfield, by General Sir Maitland Wilson, Admiral Sir John Cunningham, and Air ViceMarshal George Baker, Chief of Staff of the Mediterranean Air Force. The King showed no trace of tiredness as he stepped from the plane. He chatted for 10 minutes with officials, after which he motored to Naples as Admiral Cunningham’s guest. Few people were allowed on Naples airfield when the King arrived, and of those who were there fewer knew the identity of the visitor. A correspondent was told that someone of interest was arriving. When His Majesty arrived he was wearing a field marshal’s uniform. There was an amusing touch as a tiny jeep went ahead guiding the plane across the scarred tarmac. On the way to Naples His. Majesty passed many scenes of devastation caused months ago by Allied bombing and German demolitions. \s Uneventful Flight. His Majesty’s pilot, Wing Commander Henry Collins, who also flew him to North Africa last year, said that the flight was uneventful. His Majesty spent some time iu the control cabin. Princess Elizabeth is acting, as Counsellor of State for the first time during the King’s absence. The other Counsellors are the Queen, the Duke ot Gloucester, the Princess Royal and Princess Arthur of Connaught. This is the King’s fourth visit to the war zone, and the first to Italy since 1930. when as Duke of York he attended Prince Umberto’s wedding.