RAIDS OVER ITALY

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 May 1943, Page 5

RAIDS OVER ITALY

FLIGHT FROM ROME

PEACE LEAFLETS’ WARNING LONDON, May 19.

Thousands of Italians fled northwards from Rome after the Royal Air Force appeared over the capital last Sunday, reports the Geneva correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” Local authorities as far north as Florence have protested against the invasion. They claim that foodstuffs are insufficient for the resident population. Thousands of refugees from the coastal regions of Southern Italy have swollen the numbers of refugees, and southerners are never popular in Northern Italy. The Rome correspondent of the “Neue Zuercher Zeitung” declares that the Royal Air Force dropped leaflets over Rome demanding unconditional surrender and also listing forthcoming Italian targets, including Rome, a fact which has caused great concern. The Rome radio quotes Gayda, tne Italian publicist, as saying that now that the war has entered an extremely delicate stage, the Anglo-Saxon Powers consider it opportune to accelerate the war of nerves against the Italian people. They hope to conclude the war with Italy as early as possible. Methods in their war of nerves include the circulation of fantastic rumours, such as the creation of a council of six, including King Victor Emmanuel and Mussolini, and also the appointment of Marshal Badoglio as commander-in-chief. This war of nerves will be unsuccessful, says Gayda. . According to reports received from Italy, says Reuter’s Lisbon correspondent, crowds cried Long live the King” in demonstration in several Italian towns after rumours oi King Victor’s abdication. .Mussolini s name was not mentioned. Reliable information suggests that reports oi imminent abdication should not be credited.

ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATIONS

(Recd. 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 19. Many arrests were made following anti-war demonstrations ,in Italian cities, according to reports reaching Lisbon. The police are said to be keeping a careful watch for signs oi unrest and are assisted by the German military authorities in civilian clothes. , ~ , . . ~ The Italians, with the last hope oi victory gone, and in daily fear of invasion, are utterly war-weary. ihe authorities are “doctoring ’ private radio sets in. Sicily and Sardinia so it is only possible for the owners to listen to the Rome radio. The sets owned by people who are considered to be politically unreliable are being confiscated on the pretext that the army needs them. , „ Reports continue to reach' Zunch from Italy of growing public bewilderment in face of the latest war developments. Anti-Fascists are still pinning their hopes on Crown Prince Umberto assuming the Crown and the leadership of the country. A Rome broadcast to-day asked all Italians now abroad for business reasons to register immediately with their embassies and legations, and give explicit reasons for their absence from Italy. , n , The Rome radio describes a leaflet which the R.A.F. dropped over Rome. The back page has a map with the caution: “The Allies will darken the sky over Italy,” showing the cities which will be subjected to Allied raids. The leaflet reads: “The air and naval superiority of the Allies. is overwhelming, and is still growing. The Italians are doomed to destruction as long as a single German' remains within the frontiers of their country. Our enormous forces are ready, and are only waiting for the order to march into Europe through Italy. We know the Italians want peace, but wanting is not enough. They must openly ask for it, and show by popular demonstration where they stand. Till then Italy will be subjected to incessant bombing and her' industries will be systematically reduced.” Veering round from bombastic claims that invasion is impossible, the Italian Press, led by Doctor Gayda, has adopted a realistic view of the situation, says the “Evening Standard.” Gayda, in an article in the “Girnale D’ltalia,” says: What are the terms Washington and London might be prepared to offer us in exchange for unconditional surrender? As we stand to-day the alternative to further combat is national destruction if not oblivion. Is it not better, therefore, to continue to fight a bit longer, despite the terroristic destruction of Italian towns and villages if the end might be different? Independent reports from well-in-formed Vatican sources mention an “ultimate demarche” by a high Vatican source to reach an acceptable compromise on the fate of the Mediterranean Basin as it affects Italy. Reuter’s correspondent says Mussolini has called a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee for Saturday, rrhe committee is the real Italian Cabinet for dealing with anti-in-vasion measures.

RAID IN PANTELLERIA.

LONDON, May 19

Allied aircraft yesterday bombed the harbour and airfield of the Italian island of Pantelleria. A correspondent says it was the heaviest raid yet made on the island. A strong force of medium bombers and fight-er-bombers macle the attack and scored hits on the docks, among parked aircraft, and on a number of small vessels in the harbour.

LATER

The Pantellaria raid was the heaviest yet made against the island, reports the N.B.C’s. Algiers correspondent. Over 90 tons of bombs were dropped on docks, shipping, and airfields. Photographic records show that six merchantmen were directly hit in the harbour and that more than 12 small naval craft were wrecked. There was extensive destruction by fires in the dock area, and there were craters in the airfields.

PARLIAMENT’S THANKS

LONDON, May 18

Resolutions thanking the Allied troops for their brilliant victory in Tunisia were passed in both Houses of Parliament in London to-day. The Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee) said that the number of Axis casualties since Italy entered the war now totalled 627,000, compared with 227,000 casualties from Britain and the Empire. The Secretary of State for War (Sir James Grigg) said that-the number of Axis prisoners taken was nearly 490,000, 142,000 being Germans and more than 347,000 Italians. Against those figures the British prisoners were only about 150,000. The total number of Axis prisoners captured in Tunisia is considerably more than 200,000, according to an announcement by General Eisenhower at Allied Headquarters in North Africa.