TENSION IN EUROPE

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1943, Page 5

TENSION IN EUROPE

Italian Senate Meets MEASURES TAKEN TO MEET INVASION. (Rec. 6.30.) LONDON, May 15. The Italian Senate met for six hours yesterday to hear measures taken to protect Italy’s sacred soil I against foreign invasion. The Secretary of the Navy, Riccardi, stressed the precarious state of Italy’s land communications in the event of invasion and warned that while what was left of the Italian fleet it could not prevent a British-American invasion, it would do its.utmost to interfere in any such attempt. The naval struggle for possession of North Africa had been a continuous struggle against an .enemv superior in number, especially in his great naval and air reserves. The fight for Tunisia was particularly hard. It was carried on within a very confined space for six months, during which the enemy employed not only cruisers, destroyers, motor torpedo-boats, fast mine-layers, and submarines, but above all, planes and still more planes. Supplies could not always n* shipped from Marsala to Cape Bon but. had often to be taken from other ports, involving a far longer crossing. Particularly dangerous was the last part of the shipping route through the heavily mined Sicillian Straits, where convoys were constantly exposed to attack. Air Secretary Fougier announced that 18,500 airmen were lost in the African campaign. Italy had been lately placed at a great disadvantage in not being able to turn out such a variety of new planes as her enemies. “The enemv will certainly intensify her air offensive in the hope of breaking the resistance of Italy.” he said . “He will not abstain from terror raids against civilians. True to tradition, the Italian Air Force will do everything to meet the enemy and repulse him wherever _ he attacks. The Italian Air Force since the outbreak of the war has inflicted the following losses op the Allies at sea: Sunk: 145 merchantmen, totalling more than one million tons; sixty-seven warships; In the air: destroyed: 2,343 planes, including 1944 in combat, and probably destroyed one thousand others.” The War Secretary, General Sorice stated that precautions had been taken for the rapid transport of troops to points where the enemy might land. Special mobile corps were being formed. All vulnerable areas had been reinforced, including the coast of Montenegro, Dalmatia, and Yugoslavia. In the event of a successful enemv landing, a possibility that could not be overlooked, special rationing and supply plans were already worked out. New disciplinary measures were shortly being taken to strengthen the home front. Legislation has also been prepared for putting certain areas under military jurisdiction. The population, though somewhat anxious, firmly believed in final victory and was determined to defend Italian soil. He added that ten Italian divisions were Ipst .in North Africa during the Tunisian campaign, and six Generals and twenty-three Colonels were taken prisoner.

SCHOOLS TO CLOSE IN ITALY. (Rec. 7.50.) LONDON, Ma v 15. It is reported from Berne that Italy is feverishly preparing against the threat of invasion. The Italian Minister of Education has ordered the closure of all schools in the Nation .toy May 22 in order to assist civilian evacuation and liberate 18 and 19 year olds, who thus far are exempt from military training. Italian troop trains are reported to be rushing to the Calabrian Peninsula. Marshal Badoglio has returned from a flying tour of inspection of defences and has reported to the King and military experts GERMAN ARMY WILL DEFEND ITALY. (Rec. 11.50.) LONDON', May 15. “Deutsche Diplomatische Korrespondence.” the German Foreign Office official journal, declares that the German Army will defend every inch of Italian soil, just as that of her own country. It stated: “The Ger-man-Italian brotherhood-in-arms will stand its ultimate and supreme test wherever the enemy attacks.”

Allies’ Next Move

REPORTS FROM MANY COUNTRIES.

LONDON, May 14.

Axis radio spokesmen and newspapers are hourly increasing Europe’s uncertainty and trepidation by arguing on every angle from the immediate invasion of Europe to the impracticability of a second front. It is now apparent that the Axis is suffering from the greatest attack of nerves since long before the outbreak of war. Allied propaganda is proving most successful, judging from the reports pouring in from all corners of Europe. The Stockholm correspondent of the British United Press states that 17-year-old Germans have been called up for military service in Hitler’s latest effort to strengthen man power. Axis newspapers and radios meanwhile are anxiously discussing what the Allies intend to do next. A military commentator, writing in “Das Reich” concludes that the Allies will invade Europe while the main Axis forces are engaged with the Russians. He admitted that the Italian fleet had suffered heavily and he gave a warning that the Germans should not under-estimate the advantages the Allies had gained in North Africa.

The Berlin radio commentator. Captain Sertorius, in trying to guess the result of Mr. Churchill’s visit to Washington, argued that a double offensive against Europe and Japan was impossible, and that therefore the Allies would most likely follow the lines of the Casablanca decisions.

Quoting a pro-Axis French writer, the Paris radio said: “The Allies must attack France because they must destroy the German U-boat bases on the French coast. The British will' attack first. It is a matter of prestige with them.” The Rome radio states that, there is no truth in reports from Berne that the defence of Italy has been entrusted to six men. including Mussolini, the King of Italy, and Marshal Graziani or that Marshal Badoglio has been recalled from retirement to assume command in the south of Italy. The British United Press states that there is little foundation for a number of other rumours from Europe, including the claim of internal disruption in Italy, or that thousands of people rioted outside the Wehrmacht Information Bureau in Berlin in an effort to; obtain news of Germans in Tunisia, but a demonstration certainly occurred. Reports from Greece agree that the Germans, fearing an Allied landing, have initiated a reign of terror to cow the Greeks into passive submission. states the Istanbul correspondent of “The Times.” John.Rallis, who is a new Quisling, has issued several decrees providing for the harshest measures against the relatives of missing ’ Greek officers, meaning