Demolitions, Rearguard Clashes Pattern Of War In Italy

Northern Advocate, 1 October 1943, Page 3

Demolitions, Rearguard Clashes Pattern Of War In Italy

(Received 11.30 a.m. (Special) LONDON, September 30. THE GERMANS PLAN TO HOLD UP THE EIGHTH ARMY 1 BY REARGUARD ACTIONS BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS OF ABRUZZI AND UMBRIA WHILE THEY CONSOLIDATE THEIR POSITION IN LOMBARDY AND ALONG THE RIVER PO.

This is the opinion of the “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent with the Eighth Army at Foggia, and adds that it .looks like being demolitions, demolitions all the way back with occasional minor rearguard actions

“It is clear that the Germans in their policy of demolition are likely to be .just as ruthless in the country of their former ally as they have shown themselves wherever they have conducted retreats, whether in Europe or Africa. “Progress of the Eighth Army in the coming weeks should be judged in the light of this prospect. The weather is now beginning to deteriorate and a tropical downpour probably heralds the beginning of the rainy season. Such circumstances will favour the enemy rather than ourselves. . “Superficially, it does not look as if there is going to be any short cut for the Eighth Army. The physical configuration of Italy compels the Fifth Army and Eighth Army to maintain entirely distinct routes both by land and sea.” The correspondent adds that progress of the main body of the Eighth Army is unlikely to be marked by any sensational military clashes during the coming weeks.

Germans Exhausted A correspondent with the Fifth Army rays: “The Germans’ resi?;auce in the mountains north-west of Sax erno craeked suddenly because they were fought completely to a standstill.

“Many came in as captives, strong burly men of first line German units, stumbling in their weariness like old men. They ivvere unshaven and dirty I have never seen the Germans so broken in spirit and morale. There was fear in their eyes and defeat in the very manner in which they slouched along.”

Mr. A. B. Austin, with the Fifth Army, calls the road to Naples: “A road of death” and adds “For years this valley will be remembered as the scene‘of one of the hardest victories of-the war.”

Looting At Peak The correspondent of the “Daily Express” (Mr. Alan Moorhead) tells a fantastic story of looting in Foggia. He says that more than 200,000 people vanished after the Allied bombing. When the Germans retired, they looted. “They snatched mostly clothing. After the Germans, came the usual hangers on and what the Germans left these finished off. I thought that in the last three years I had seen extremities of looting but here it touched a peak of wild, senseless abandon.

.“At the local ‘Woolworth’ people simply clawed down the steel shutters with axes and Dicks. They ran past counters, snatching up goods without apparently knowing or caring what they got. When packages fell on the floor they were trampled under foot. It was the same in shop after shop. In f.he wealthiest jewellers, looters went straight through plate-giass windows and snatched up rings and necklaces by the handful. They dragged from cellars dozens of big wooden cases just arrived from Switzerland, and,- as they raked through straw to get watches and trinkets, the debris mounted to the roof of the shop." The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent from Zurich reports widespread sabotage in North Italy where there are mass arrests and summary executions.

Hun. Orgy In Naples Neapolitans are suffering their last hours of agony under German occupation. Correspondents in southern Italy report that the Germans have renewed their orgy' of sacking, looting and burning. Great fires are raging in the city is German demolition squads are destroying factories, warehouses, public utilities, and works of art. “

Today’s German communique states: “We have thoroughly destroyed harbour installations in Naples and have also taken the severest measures against Communist riots.”

Berlin radio said: “There was widespread rioting and sabotage in Naples as a result of methodical Communist co-operation with the Allies. Energetic measures were carried out in order to exclude the danger of an Allied landing, in co-operation with Communists.”

Fifth Army Casualties British casualties in the Fifth Army between September 8 and 20 were 5211 killed, wounded and missing, says the National Eroadcasting Company’s correspondent at Algiei's. Mr. H. L. Stimson stated in Washington that, excluding Salerno, where so far there had been approximately 3500 casualties, American war casualties to September 15 totalled 85,000.

Nearing the Heart ■ Allied forces at one point are only two miles from the centre of Naples, said Morocco radio in an earlier message. Elsewhere they are five-and-ahalf miles and the average distance from the centre is four miles.

The Germans have blown up the Royal Palace and other famous buildings in Naples from sheer spite, says an Italian officer who escaped from the city. Factory machinery also was destroyed.

Wild West Drama Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army says a Wild West drama was enacted at Foggia on Tuesday, when five German parachutist engineers, in two cars loaded with explosives, drove into the town to carry out a few final demolitions, not knowing that the' town already was occupied by British forces. Many British infantryman were cooking their evening meal on the pavement over petrol fires. “They look like Germans,” said one as the cars passed. A shot fang out. Some shouted: “They are Germans!” Then began a wild chase through the town. One car crashed into the ruins of the former Fascist headquarters when the driver was hit. The second car crashed into a lamppost as British officers, shooting from their windows, picked off the driver. The only other casualty was an Italian civilian, killed by a burst from a German sub-machine-gun. General Retreat Begins Allied headquarters has announced that the capture of Naples is now only a matter of hours, says Cairo radio.

Vichy radio quotes a German report i that the Fifth Army attack has increased in vigour, particularly in the area of Pompeii. The Germans have been forced to evacuate a number of points. Torrential rain has prevented fighting in some sectors. Algiers radio says that the Germans have begun a general retreat along the 90 miles’ front. The Allies’ right wing has reached a point about seven-and-a-half miles from Avellino.