Allies Notified Rome Defenceless

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1943, Page 3

Allies Notified Rome Defenceless

(Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON. August 24. The Italian Government has requested the Swiss Government and also the Holy See to notify the British and American Governments that Italy has placed out of action the Rome defences, says Rome radio. Anti-aircraft batteries have been ordered not to fire, and Italian fighter planes may not fly over the city. The transfer from Rome of the Italian and German Commands, as well as troops, is going on. A garrison to ensure public order only will remain in the city. The rail centre of Rome will no longer be used for military transport. Preparations are going on for the transfer of military.installations, arms and munitions factories from Rome. Britain has received a preliminary report from the protecting Fewer (Switzerland) that there is no confirmation that any British prisoners of war in Italian hands have been transferred to Germany since the Badoglio regime began. Bari Heavily Defended Liberators were forced to fight their way through a horde of enemy fighters in yesterday's raid on Bari, says a correspondent in the Middle East. They dropped nearly 125,000 lbs. of high-explosive on the objectives. An-ti-aircraft fire was light and inaccurate, but fighters swarmed round the Liberators. Without loss to themselves the Liberators shot down 14 attackers, i and probably destroyed more and damaged others. ;

After putting up masses of fighters for four days against Allied raiders in Italy and getting over 100' knocked down, the Axis yesterday failed to send up a single fighter for the defence of Battipaglia or Eagnoli but sent a swarm for the defence of Bari which, besides being a big port and air base, is also the centre for oil refineries. Liberators dropped nearly 60 tons of bombs on Bari. Reuter's correspondent at Allied headquarters says that they had to fight their way through hordes of enemy fighters. One American machine is credited with having shot down throe of 30 attacking fighters. Wellington bombers attacked the junction of Bagnoli, in the Gulf of Naples, in order to hinder crosscountry diversion of traffic from the east coast to the west -coast main line. Fighter bombers also carried out a sweep over Southern Sardinia. Reconnaissance photographs show that Italian railways were heavily damaged in the past few days. Many trains were left burning and entire yards were blocked with burned-out masses of rolling stock. Ferocious Air Battle Continues

The air battle over Italy is reaching a new stage of ferocity, with the Axis making a desperate effort ta ward of! massive Allied blows aimed at cutting vital railway links with Southern Italy. Reuter's Algiers correspondent says the enemy is losing fighters at a ruinous rate. Marauders, during yesterday's attack against Salerno, battled with swarms of fighters for over half-an-hour after dropping bombs. Fifty to 60 enemy fighters were concentrated against the bombers, while 30 to 40 hung upon escorting Invaders. Bombers shot down 31 enemy fighters and Invaders two more. Returning crews reported that despite the opposition encountered, strings of bombs fell across marshalling yards, destroying tracks and rolling stock. The Italians had barely begun the task of clearing the Salerno line when darkness brought another raid by Wellingtons, which carried out a most concentrated and successful attack. Algiers radio today rebroadcast an appeal to the Italians telling them to dc all in their power to stop the Germans pouring into Italy, particularly by sabotage against railways at Bologna. through which a large proportion of German troops and supplies is passing. “Time is running short. By the complacency of the Badoglio regime the Germans intend to continue to fight Germany’s war on Italy’s soil. By sabotage you can force the Germans to evacuate Italy. Act now! ” The Invaders mentioned in raids on Italy are converted Mustang fighterbombers which are being used i'or the first time for long-range escort work. Keen Fleet from Germans

The United Nations radio at Algiers has called on the Italian people to do everything possible to prevent the Italian fleet from falling into German hands. "Germans are already taking Italian produce and using Italian, manpower. but you still hold a great national asset in the Italian fleet. If the Italian iiect were to fall into German hands, the war would be prolonged for you. Your duty is clear. Hinder the Germans in any way possible." R.A.F. Wellingtons from the Middle East yesterday bombed Italian barracks at Island Rhodes. All our aircraft returned.