GERMANS IN ITALY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24869, 15 April 1944, Page 7

GERMANS IN ITALY

WITHDRAWAL PLANNED SWISS REPORTS DISCOUNTED REMOVAL OF EQUIPMENT (Recti. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April hi The Germans are planning a total evacuation of Italy, say reports from Switzerland, but the London Daily Telegraph says official circles are not disposed to credit these reports, as a withdrawal from Italy would entail a collapse in the Balkans. Tlie Lugano (Swiss) newspaper Corricre del Ticino stated that Mussolini is discussing the German withdrawal at Hitler's headquarters. It adds that neo-Fascist circles are of the opinion that the reasons why the Germans occupied Italy last November are no longer valid. The reasons were, firstly, prestige; secondly, the prevention of Allied raids on Central Germany from Italian bases; thirdly, the exploitation of Italy's economic resources. The Berne correspondent of the New York Times, who quotes a reliable neutral source for the statement that the Germans are planning a total evacuation of Italy, says this may present Hitler with another "Stalingrad," because the Swiss are determined to prevent the passage of retreating Nazi troops through Swiss territory, even if it means war. The correspondent adds that the German intention to evacuate Italy is indicated by the fact that 40 per cent of the industrial equipment in Northern Italy was shipped recently to Germany. MINING LIRI RIVER NEW GERMAN TACTICS LONDON, April 13 The Germans are employing new tactics along the Allied left flank on the Tyrrhenian coast. Enemy forces there, guarding the Liri Valley route to Rome, have apparently begun to lay mines in the I?iver Liri, which is a tributary of the Garigliano. They are planning to float mines down the Liri into the Garigliano against the Allied bridgeheads. These minelaving attempts follow the opening of the floodgates of the Liri Valley in order to unleash floods over the low-lying levels around the Garigliano itself. Allied reconnaissance spotted the minelaving. and our guns and mortars were soon pumping hundreds of shells and bombs into the area. The Germans in the lower Garigliano area are showing a more aggressive spirit. They are reacting sharply to Allied reconnaissance along the whole Tyrrhenian front, says Renter's correspondent at Allied headquarters. Fifth Army gunners destroyed at least half of the Formia- bridge, on the main supply route for the Germans opposing the main Fifth Army units in the coastal sector.

There was increased patrolling on the Eighth Army front, resulting in casualties to both sides. BRITISH REGIMENTS PART IN ITALIAN CAMPAIGN (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April I I Three famous British regiments have been fighting in Italy. They are the Royal East Kent Regiment (The Buffs), the Lincolnshire Regiment and the London Scottish. The Buffs have been with both the Fifth and Eighth Armies in Italy, and right from their first landings at Termoli have been in the thick of the fighting. They were among the troops to make the attack on Cassino. Tlid Lincolnshires landed with the Fifth Army at Salerno and were in the fighting in the drive on Naples. They were later in action when the Volturno was crossed and held off repeated German thrusts to the Allied bridgehead there. The men of the London Scottish fought at the crossing of the Garigliano River and took part in hard mountain fighting.

RAILWAYS BOMBED COMMUNICATIONS IN ITALY (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 14 Most of the air attacks in Italy ves.terday were directed against German communications well behind the front line. Targets included railway yards, junctions and bridges. Bridges were attacked as far apart as points 20 miles from the west coast of Italy between Rome and Leghorn and on the Adriatic coast about 40 miles south of Ancona. Railway yards at Ancona itself -were bombed. ROME RAID REPORTED LONDON, April 13 The Rome radio stated that British and American planes bombed suburbs of Rome this morning, after which planes swooped low and machinegunned the streets. The radio later reported that suburbs were again bombed in the afternoon and that towns in Tuscans- were also attacked. NEW GREEK CABINET ACCEPTANCE OF TASK (Reed, (i.30 p.m.) LONDON, April I f Renter's Cairo correspondent reports that Colonel Venizelos has accepted an invitation from King George .of Greece to form a Cabinet. The members of the Greek Government. including the Prime Minister, M, Tsouderos, recently decided to remain in office until the immediate crisis was passed and it was possible for fresh discussions to take place, said a Cairo message. The crisis followed a disagreement about the best way to reorganise the Government on a broader basis to give fuller representation to the resistance movement.