CIANO NOT RESCUED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24690, 16 September 1943, Page 5

CIANO NOT RESCUED

NOT WANTED ANY MORE BERLIN RADIO STATEMENT (Reed. 5.20 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 15 Mussolini's son-in-law, Ciano, is not among the rescued Fascist leaders, whose number is steadily increasing, says the Berlin radio. It adds: "Ciano has not been seen for many days,. but apart from everything else, his attitude at the last meeting of the Fascist Grand Council excludes all possibility of his playing any part in the revived Fascist Party." Renter's correspondent in Zurich says the alleged demonstrations of joy throughout Italian cities as a result of! Mussolini's release do not accord with j the people's feelings. Reliable reports prove that the people generally received the news with misgiving, even fear. German soldiers organised the demonstrations in the big northern cities.

Ciano was removed from the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs when sweeping changes were made in the Italian Cabinet last February. One report said a German threat to occupy Italy led to the changes. It was believed that Ciano. Grandi and Badoglio demanded that Mussolini withdraw from active politics to enable this trio to open peace talks.

MUSSOLINI'S LIBERATION ITALIAN MOUNTAINS TAKEN FROM LOFTY PEAK (Reed. 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. IS Giving what it calls the official account of Mussolini's rescue, the German news agency says parachutists rescued him from a hotel on a 9000 ft. peak in the Gran Sasso d'ltalia chain of the Abruzzi Mountains, east of Rome, and about 30 miles from the Adriatic coast.

The rescuers, who were led by S.S. Leader Otto Skorzeny, quickly overpowered the Carabinieri guards and entered Mussolini's room.

Skorzeny said: "The Fuehrer sends me to liberate you."

Mussolini embraced him and replied: " T guessed it. 1 never doubted that the Fuehrer would do everything to get me from here." Mussolini was then flown to Hitler's headquarters.

POPE'S DIFFICULTIES | MAY LEAVE VATICAN CITY TIDE OF WAR THREATENS ROME (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 15 Roman Catholic circles are discussing the possibility of the Pope leaving Vatican City if Rome becomes a scone of battle, says the Berne correspondent of the Associated Press. The Pope is at present virtually Kesselring's prisoner. German troops so far have respected the Vatican City as neutral territory, but the situation is expected t-o grow worse with military developments in the. near future. Renter's correspondent at the Swiss frontier town of Chiasso reports that cardinals in Rome have withdrawn into the Vatican City. "German parachutists in St. Peter's Square are mounting guard with antitank guns," said the Berlin radio, quoting its Rome correspondent. The radio added that the Germans are in Rome to prevent Communists or anyone else from penetrating into Vatican City. The Lateran Treaty between Ttaly and the Vatican says that St. Peter's Square forms a part of Vatican City, but that Italians can use it. Because of this. Itliari police are responsible for order and security there. German soldiers have now replaced the Italian police, and behind them at the entrances to the Vatican are the Pope's Swiss Guards. REVOLT AGAINST NAZIS ITALIAN UNREST SPREADS (Becd. 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 15 Bitter opposition to the Germans is spreading throughout Italy, and the "Communist revolts" in Milan and Turin have assumed proportions of the first importance, says the Daily Telegraph correspondent on the Italian frontier. Although the Germans refer to bands of rebels in Northern Italy, these bands consist of several Italian regiments, which are fiercely fighting the Germans in the mountainous regions. They have the full support of civilians. The Algiers radio says violent opposition to tiie German occupying forces is spreading in Northern Italy, where sabotage and Strikes are occurring. Street fighting is taking place in Rome, and Italian troops are challenging the German# from Trieste to Albania.