ITALIAN SUCCESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25338, 23 September 1943, Page 5

ITALIAN SUCCESS

FIGHTING IN NORTH ENEMY GARRISON OVERCOME (Rec. 7* p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 21. A report received from Berne states that Carmagnola, between Cuneo and Turin, has capitulated to the remnants of the Italian Fourth Army, which have been fighting the Germans in the northern tip of the Po Valley for four days, and succeeded in wiping out Carmagnola’s strong German mechanised garrison. Whole companies of regulars, after overcoming their Fascist officers, and thousands of workers, have joined the remnants of the Fourth Army, which, besides completely blocking the Mont Cenis tunnel, which is the most direct route from France, continue to mine bridges and strategic roads along the frontier, making them impassable. It is estimated that the Mont Cenis tiinnel will be out of action for two months.

Vatican radio reports that the German patrol posted in front of St. Peter’s Square, which is the boundary between Rome and the territory of Vatican City, has not actually entered Vatican City. Italy’s commander-in-chief in Rome telephoned the Vatican, upon which officials went to the boundary and saw for themselves that the Germans had not crossed the boundary. The Germans are offering a reward equivalent to £2O a head for the capture of Allied war prisoners in Italy. Many of the prisoners released by the Italians after the armistice are joining armed Italian guerrilla bands which are harassing German troops. The Daily Mail says that* only about 25 per cent, of the prisoners have been recaptured. Marshal Badoglio, in a broadcast, said Mussolini had informed his collaborators before his downfall that he was considering cutting adrift from the Germans because Hitler had betrayed him. Badoglio bitterly criticised Mussolini’s broadcast with reference to the German “spiritual world,” declaring, “We seek it in vain in the inhuman treatment given our soldiers, especially the Alpinieri in Russia.”