A REIGN OF TERROR

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXII, Issue 15466, 29 September 1943, Page 3

A REIGN OF TERROR

IN NORTHERN ITALY. United Press Assn.- -By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, Sept. 28 The German reign of terror over Northern Italy has become as frightful a y anything in their record of war crimes. They are raping, shooting, robbing and destroying in unrestrained fury against their former allies, says Reuter's correspondent with the Fifth Army. Thousands of hunted refugees are coming over the mountains to Fifth Army outposts. They speak oi Germans rounding up civilian men, taking them off northwards, nobody knows where, dragging away women who are never seen again. When their orders ar e not instantly obeyed they start shooting. Whole families have been wiped out and stores of food stolen. Th e British United Press’ Brindisi correspondent says refugees from Rome say the Germans shelled tlie centre of Rome before they entered tli city and then looted it. They even held up civilians and took watches and wallets. Algiers radio says Germans are evacuating factory workers from Naples. Small contingents of workers have already been transferred to Germany. Tlie Fifth Army is throwing in tanks to support a strong attack launched on Naples while Allied warships, which ,according to B rlia reports, moved .yesterday front Salerno ay to th 0 Gulf of Naples, are shelling tlie enemy on land, sav s Vichy radio. Morocco radio says the Allies in a sudden thrust supported by tanns stormed important enemy positions north of Salerno. Tlie Columbia Broadcasting! System’s Algiers correspondent says that by capturing several key positions in the mountainous northeastern sector of the Salerno front Filth Army units are reported to hav,e outflanked some of the German troops defending Naples. Berlin radio says the Badoglio Government is functioning from Bari.