Prepare For Demolition Of Rome

Northern Advocate, 5 October 1943, Page 3

Prepare For Demolition Of Rome

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, October 4

German troops are preparing to demolish Rome, says reports from Switzerland. Destruction of the Italian capital may begin next week-end. The Germans already are speeding up plans to cut off the city's water supply. Water pipelines running from reservoirs in 'the mountains halve been mined and explosives have been placed in bridges over the Tiber River.

Fearing they will be unable to hold Rome, the Germans plan for it the same fate as Naples. . Mr. Morley Richards, the “Daily Express” military kvriter, says the Germans are not likely to remain long in Rome for fear they are trapped by the converging forces of the Fifth and Eighth Armies.

Prayers for Christian Cause

The Catholic -Archbishop of New York, Dr. Spellman, yesterday made a world-wide appeal for prayers for the Pope and for the sparing of Rome from destruction. He said: “Pray that Rome will *be spared from destruction and. above all, that American soldiers will not be forced to destroy the city through the enemy's baiting tactics. Pray not that the Pope’s life be spared —because death in his agony and suffering would be a mercy—but pray for his cause, the cause of Christ and civilisation.

Punishment for Italians

The German commander in Southern Italy, Kesselring, today warned Italians that they would be gaoled if they listened to Allied broadcasts.

Rommel, commander in Northern Italy, also issued new threats to the Italian people in a broadcast from his headquarters. He said any person who attacked a German soldier would be shot and persons guilty of sabotage would be heavily punished. Little Resistance Inland

The Allies' western and eastern claiws are closing on Rome, from which they are only 120 to 150 miles distant respectively, says Reuter’s Algiers correspondent. Enemy opposition is stiff' on the west and east coasts, but General Clark’s Americans, advancing from Benevento in the centre, report only light resistance.

Paris radio, quoting an official German announcement, says 50 terrorists convicted of terrorism and sabotage were shot.

Air Power Did It

Pleading at Seattle for greater plane output, General Arnold said: “The Italian invasion would have been easier if the Allies had had more planes. It could not have been accomplished with fewer. The British and American air forces saved our troops at Salerno. We were forced to use every available plane our North African force could muster from every possible source. One day in September there were more than 1600 planes in the air going from America to some war theatre, but still greater replacements are needed.”

Succour for Naples

Reconstruction of Naples is progressing says Algiers radio. British and American engineers • with Italian volunteers have almost completed repairs to the water system. Huge convoys of trucks loaded (with medical supplies and food are streaming into the city.

Officials of the Allied Military Government of Occupied Territory, who entered Naples immediately after the larmy. have reorganised food, gas, electricity and supplies. A British Press representative with the Fifth Army says that Naples is calm. A bread ration is on issue 'and industries at present are at a standstill owing to lack of power. People have no cooking fuel and are gathering wood from wrecked trucks in railway yards. It is estimated that 600,000 ot the normal 1.000,000 population remain. The American Navy Secretary (Colonel Knox), who is touring the Mediterranean, saw the Fifth Army in the last stage of the advance on Naples. Colonel Knox told the Press: “We have not yet made a real assault on Europe nor come to grips with the Japanese in the South Pacific. The hardest and most costly part of the war is ahead. It is foolish to think that the boys will be home by Christmas."