South Italy In State Of Alert Fearing Allied Invasion Move

Northern Advocate, 8 April 1943, Page 3

South Italy In State Of Alert Fearing Allied Invasion Move

(Received 11,30 a.m.)

LONDON, April 7,

ACCORDING TO THE ZURICH CORRESPONDENT OF THE n “EVENING STANDARD” NAPLES IS TO BE EVACUATED. TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION IN NAPLES HAS BROKEN DOWN. AND RESCUE SQUADS ARE STILL WORKING IN PILES OF WRECKAGE.

Reports from Stockholm say that all Southern Italy is in a state of alert as a result of the devastating Allied air raids on Naples and Sicily.

The Italians believe that the Allied raids are a prelude to invasion of Italy.

The Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Express” lists, these “invasion” points as:

(1) German armoured trains are being rushed south to form a mobile defence system. (2) Italian newspapers give prominence to stories of an anti-invasion secret weapon. (3) Blackshirt militia have formed special squads to deal with paratroops and saboteurs. (4) The Italian Government has adopted regulations putting all civilians under martial law in the event of invasion.

Heavy Casualties

German communique states that casualties as a result of the Antwerp raid on Monday were more than 2000 killed.

An Italian communique says serious damage was done by a raid on Tuesday on Trapani, Messina. Forty-six were killed and 109 injured. A Cairo communique states that America n Liberators, without loss, attacked Messina harbour last night, scoring direct hits on ferry buildings and quays. nOe enemy fighter was destroyed. Early this morning about eight German fighter-bombers attacked a place on the south coast of England. Two others dropped bombs at a place on the south-east coast. Two raiders were destroyed. Spitfires this morning destroyed a Junkers 88 off southern Sicily. Malta’s fighter-bombers attacked Raguss, in southern Sicily. Cruiser Attacked The Admiralty has announced that a British submarine attacked an Italian cruiser of the Regolo class in the Straits of Messina. The noise of a heavy explosion followed the attack, the full effects of which were not observed. Other submarines operating in the Mediterranean torpedoed two tankers and a mediumsized supply ship. One of the tankers was intercepted near cape Spartivento, Italy, while proceeding under air and sea escort. The other tanker was torpedoed while being towed off the north coast of Sicily and the supply ship formed part of a convoy attacked ear Marittimo. Noisy but ineffective enemy countermeasures made it possible to observe full results of these attacks. At leasi one tanker is believed to have been sunk. 300,000 Quit Essen Reports received at Stockholm from Germany state that it is estimated that 300,000, mainly women, children and men unable to work, were evacuated from Essen before the last British raid. 1

Berlin radio says that 311 were killed in the American raid on Billaucourt on April 4. waffe will strike back blows more ter“The hour will come when the Luftrible than ever," said a German High Command spokesman referring to the Antwerp and Renault raids.

Six fighter-bombers made a hit and run raid on a south coast town in daylight yesterday. One is believed to have been shot down. Bombs damaged a number of building's. Two ether raiders bombed a south-east town shortly after daybreak. An Air Ministry communique reports that Bomber Command planes last night mined enemy waters. Two are missing.