THE GERMAN HEEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25301, 11 August 1943, Page 3

THE GERMAN HEEL

PRESSURE ON BADOGLIO THREAT TO TAKE CONTROL (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 10. The London correspondent of tne New York paper P. M. says that Marshal Badoglio, in a direct message to the United Nations which an emissary carried to a neutral city, warned them that if this Government falls Hitler is prepared to establish an Italian puppet Government, using the Nazi armed forces to enforce it. Badoglio pointed out that the Germans were threatening to take over the Government of Italy. Ten thousand German troops, he stated, were stationed in Rome, and two German armoured divisions were standing just outside Rome in readiness to enter, while a third Nazi division was moving towards Rome from Apulia. The Palace Conspiracy What is claimed to be the first authentic account of the palace conspiracy which led up to the downfall of Mussolini and Fascism was given by Mr C. M. Franzero, a former London correspondent of the Giornale d’ltalia, in an article in the Daily Telegraph. The story was derived from a personage who was a personal friend of Badoglio and arrived in London from Rome a few days ago. Mr Franzero says the conspiracy took over 18 months to mature. King Victor began to move towards the end of 1942 alter the loss of Libya. The air blitz against north Italian cities also occurred in that autumn, and the King, visiting the bombed cities, was confronted with heartbreaking popular demonstrations demanding peace. The King had been notified that Mussolini was conspicuously absent from the bombed cities and there was a streng popular sentiment against the Duce. The King returned to Rome perplexed and anxious, and found the capital seething with whispers indicating that Mussolini had more than outstayed his welcome. It was then that me King suddenly decided to move. He first called a number of personages to the palace for individual consultations, including his trusted friend Badoglio and Count Grandi. Mussolini reorganised the Cabinet early last February, and then appointed Signor Scorza party secretary. It soon became apparent that Mussolini was determined to counter-check the palace conspiracy with the old methods of the bludgeon, but the King hesitated to act for fear of the consequences of failure. Fateful Meeting with Hitler

Then came the fall of Tunisia and the invasion of Sicily. The palace decided that it was time to act, and the actual decision is believed to have been taken after Mussolini returned from the fateful meeting with Hitler at Verona. The stage was set and the garrison in and around Rome was loyal to the King, as well as the garrisons of the principal cities. The King decided, however, that the coup, as far as possible, must be executed constitutionally. Mussolini was asked to convene a meeting of the Fascist Grand Council. He did, not refuse, and perhaps still hoped to be able to sway the council, but his rule ended at the hands of the King and Badoglio.