Cheers And Confetti For Palmero’s Conquerors

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1943, Page 3

Cheers And Confetti For Palmero’s Conquerors

(Rec. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. Palermo when captured was not a pleasant sight, stated the “Daily Express” correspondent with the American Seventh Army. Nearly every building was badly battered and showing ugly wounds. Damage in the harbour area, where huge piles of rubble cluttered the streets showed our bombardment’s accuracy and force. Palermo's cathedral and opera house are both untouched. The Americans ordered the civilian population to remain indoors until military control was established. The ban was lifted within a few hours when people streamed out to welcome the conquerors.

Admiral Captured

British patrols captured the Italian Admiral Leonardi in the hills near Augusta, where he had wandered for several days after the city’s seizure. Leonardi disclosed that Italians in Augusta were caught napping and said that the Allied attack was expected about July 3, when there was litttle moonlight, consequently the defences were only lightly manned. American troops entered Palermo at 8 p.m. on Thursday amid scenes of delirious enthusiasm, says a British Press correspondent. “General Paton won a bet on the capture by 28 hours. The blitz march of an American armoured column was based on marvellous handling of supplies. When 100,000 gallons of petrol were got ashore at the tiny port of Sciacca, just captimed, that enabled tanks to travel so fast and far. Palermo welcomed with delirious enthusiasm the army that bombed and conquered it. Palermo is the biggest enemy city that the Allies have yet captured and in one brie!' hour its people shed 20 years of Fascist propaganda and welcomed tbe Americans like beloved heroes. It started at Monreale. six miles out, when the great armoured column twisted down a mountain road into a long narrow street. There was pandemonium waiting to meet us. Streets were so crowded that Carabinaire could scarcely clear the path for tanks. Balconies were thronged. Most women put on their best clothes and all seemed completely hysterical. They screamed, clapped and waved flag's, shouting Viva America, Viva Inghailterra. They ran alongside to shake hands. Kisses and Lemons “At the least encouragements they kissed. Flowers, almonds, apples, greengages and lemons were tossed in showers into jeeps, and trucks. Tiny babies were held up to see the great sight and if possible, touch American soldiers.

“Every time the column halted every vehicle was inundated beneath a surging wave of people. With wild signs and grimaces they tried to give expression to what they felt. Many were people evacuated from dockside areas at Palermo. “We had bombed them out and now they were welcoming us with frantic joy. From where we entered Palermo there was one broad straight boulevard leading to the heart of the city. There General Molinero was waiting to receive the American corps commander and surrender Palermo. As soon as possible impatiently waiting crowds seized upon us as targets for their enthusiasm. Our hands were wrung until they were sore, men and women kissed us. “When our hands were full they forced wine down our throats, they slapped our backs and shouted phrases English expressing their welcome. Even Italian soldiers drifting along to be captured joined in the cheering. This was the reception I hoped we would get at Athens, Oslo, and Warsaw. I wished II Duce was with us to see it. Even when it was getting dark people were still waiting offering wine and throwing friut and in English expressing their welcome.

Marshal Pietro Badoglio was born in 1871. During the World War, he commanded the 271 b Corps at the battle of Caporetto. From February, 1918, hi; acted as sole sub-Chiel of Staff under Diaz. He conducted Armistice preliminaries at Villa Giusti and signed the Armistice on behalf of Italy. In November, 1919, he was appointed to the rank of army general, and was Chief of the General Staff in succession to Diaz until February, 1921. In 1923 he was appointed ambassador to Brazil, but returned to be Chief of the General Staff, a post which had been recreated when Mussolini took charge of the War Ministry. He led the conqucsi of Abyssinia, of which he was appointed Viceroy, resigning shortly afterwards. After the Balkans fiasco, he relinquished the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Armed Forces, and since then has been living in obscurity. When the Fascists marched on Rome, he told the King he would stop them if given the word, and has always been regarded as an enemy of the system.