PEOPLE'S MISGIVINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1943, Page 5

PEOPLE'S MISGIVINGS

OPPOSITION TO GERMANS

LONDON, September 15. Reuters Zurich correspondent says that alleged demonstrations of joythroughout the Italian cities as a result of the release of Mussolini are not in accord with the people's feelings. Reliable reports from Italy prove that the people generally received the news with misgiving,. and even fear. German soldiers themselves organised demonstrations of enthusiasm in big northern cities. Bitter opposition to the Germans is spreading throughout Italy. The "Communist revolts" in Milan and Turin have assumed proportions of the first importance.

The "Daily Telegraph" correspondent on the Italian frontier says that though the Germans refer to bands of rebels in northern Italy, these consist of several Italian regiments which are fiercely fighting the Germans in mountainous regions with the full support of civilians.

Count Ciano is not among the rescued Fascist leaders, whose number is steadily increasing, declared Berlin radio. "Ciano has not been seen for many days, but, apart from everything else, his attitude at the last meeting of the Fascist Grand Council excludes all possibility of his playing any part in the revised Fascist Party," it said [Reports of the Fascist Council meeting at which Mussolini was deposed stated that Ciano, the Duce's son-in-law, was one of those who voted against him.] The German news agency, giving what it calls an official account of the rescue of Mussolini, says that parachutists rescued him from a hotel on the 9000-feet Gran Sasso peak, in the Abruzzi mountains. The rescuers who were led by an SS leader, Otto Skorzeny, quickly overpowered the Carabinieri guards and entered Mussohms room, Skorzeny saying: "The luhrer sends me to liberate ' you.'' Mussolini embraced him, saying- "I guessed it. I never doubted that the lunrer would do everything to get me from here." Mussolini was then flown to Hitler's headquarters.