PANIC IN ROME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21152, 21 July 1943, Page 3

PANIC IN ROME

FRANTIC CROWDS EVACUATION RUSH accuracy"of bombing (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) »9 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. Thousands of persons in Rome are reported to be trying to evacuate to the country or to move to the Trastevere district, which is nearest the Vatican, says the British United Press’ correspondent in Berne. The wish to cluster round the Vatican is prompted by the Italians’ certainty that the Allies’ promise not to touch the Vatican' will be kept. The Daily Express correspondent on the Axis frontier says that the unexpected raid caused scenes of panic in Rome streets. Many refugees from the bombed areas of Sicily had recently arrived in Rome. When the alarm sounded, frantic crowds almost immediately blocked the shelters. Many police, it is reported, disappeared from the streets, leaving lae crowds struggling uncontrolled. A Berne message says that one of the first bombs dropped on Rome is repoated to have landed near the Villa Torlonia, Signor Mussolini's residence. The villa was undamaged. After the raid Allied bombers dropped leaflets calling on the Italian people to lay down their arms and cast out the Fascist leadership. Reuter’s commentator says that the Rome radio indirectly admitted the accuracy of the bombing. All the buildings included in its list of places hit lie close to the railway terminus, goods station, large barracks, or military parade ground. The Axis is making the most of the raid propaganda The Rome radio said that the Allies bombed the famous church of San Lorenzo, University City, and also the residential districts of Campo Verano, San Lorenzo, Prenestino ami Tiburtino. The radio added that San Lorenzo church, containing the tombs of many Popes, was destroyed.

“Impetus of Wild Beast”

The Rome radio claimed That the only military objective hit by the raiders was the Rome railway station. The Rome radio this morning stated that Rome was attacked with an impetus worthy of a wild beast and gave a list of further reports of damage and alleged that several United States planes machine-gunned civilians, causing heavy casualties. The Berlin radio says that since last evening delayed action bombs have been exploding in Rome. Whole quarters of the city had to be evacuated last night. Processions of people with their baggage moved into the inner town. Many quarters of the city are without water. The Berlin radio says it is reported from Rome that the supreme commander of the Italian . gendarmerie General Hazon, and his chief of general staff, Colonel Barengo, were killed when they were hit by a bomb while on their way to the areas being raided in Rome.

According to the Paris radio, the Vatican Under-Secretary of State, Signor Montigni, received the American charge d’affaires, to whom he expressed the indignation felt by. the Vatican concerning the raid. The Italian News Agency says that only the side walls of the Basilica San Lorenzo and two columns of the porch were left standing. The Pope learned with acute grief that San Lorenzo had been hit by several bombs, says the Rome radio. Accompanied by the Under-Secretary of State, the Pope drove to the basilica, where he inspected the damage. On returning to the Vatican, His Holiness insisted on driving through the residential quarters, where the bombs caused the main damage.