DRAMATIC EVENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 202, 27 August 1943, Page 5

DRAMATIC EVENTS

EXPECTED IN ITALY GERMAN TROOPS POURING IN ( By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright' Recd. 7.15 p.m. London, Aug. 25. “Developments as sensational as the fall of Mussolini are expected in Italy.” says Algiers radio. “Large forces of German S.S. troops, have arrived in Rome and other Italian cities.” The Italian newspaper Popolo di’Roma states that the situation in Italy continues to be one of the most delicate possible and full of unknown factors. Resentment is spreading throughout Italy at the failure of the Badoglio Government to secure Italy’s withdrawal from the war. German troops are still pouring into northern Italy and hopes of peace are receding, say correspondents on the Swiss frontier. Peace demonstrations are continuing, particularly in the north, where fear of renewed Allied air attacks on Italy's industrial cities is causing increasing unrest. Proclamtions by the Government are being ignored in many instances and in others treated with contempt. Hostility towards King Victor Emmanuel is also being shown in many of the large northern cities. The Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera says: “All we want is to get out of this terrible mess—really out. It would be futile to curse omen emi es.” The Italian news agency declared to-day: “The enemy may well continue to bomb Italian towns if he believes this will assist him, but he should stop passing judgment on the Badoglio Government. ihe Government is doing everything in its power to save, the country, which is faced with the dilemma of a dictatorship or anarchy.”

CRUISER IN FLAMES

HIT BY FIGHTER-BOMBERS Recd. 6 p.m. Rugby, Aug. 25. An enemy cruiser was s ccessfuliy attacked by Allied aircraft yesterday, according to a North African communique, which says: “Fighter-bombers of the North African air forces yesterday attacked railway communications at Sapri, Sabari and Castrovillari, southern Italy. An enemy cruiser off the southern cost of Italy was attacked by fighter-bombers. Two hits were scored and the vessel was left in flames. Attacks on motor transport near Reggio were made by fighterbombers during the day. “Night bombers last night attacked the marshalling yards and a steel works at Torre and Annunziati, near Naples. . In attacks on enemy shipping yesterday, one small vessel was sunk and two others were left in a sinking condition. Four aircraft are missing from these operations.” The cruiser, it was learned later was hit with 500-pound bombs. The I stern was blown out and the vessel I was burning fiercely after the airI craft had pulled out of their dive Tais is the first occasion. Invader: I have hit a large enemy vessel, thougt I during the Battle of Sicily they sank l many small craft. ; Since the closing stages of the I Sicilian campaign, says a correspondent at headquarters in North Africa one of the principal targets of the > North African Air Force has been I the Italian railways, but yesterdaj J motor transport and coast-wise ship- . ping were also attacked. The chief ' attacks in the last 24 hours were dei livered by Wellingtons of the R.A.F I and R.C.A.F. last night on Torre Annunziati, in the Gulf of Naples. Or | this important town, which has been ; regularly raided by Wellingtons since | the closing stages of the Sicilian I campaign, 4001 b. blockbusters hit r I steelworks and many other heavj bombs fell in marshalling yards. Once again the raiders reported that thej were untroubled by enemy lighters although there was a certain amouni of flak. Photographs confirm that the bombs were well grouped in th> target area. Long-range Invaders, which are becoming the general utility plane o. the North African Air F orce, wen’ .after railways at Sapri, on the west j coast 125 miles north of Messina, a 1 I Castrovillari, 40 miles south-east o | Capri, and at Sibari. While Spitfire; | provided a cover, the Invaders 'hi’ | railway tracks and dropped bombs al entrance to the tunnel near Sanr’ Other invaders were ranging over 12( miles north of the Straits of*Messina A Middle East air communique states: “An enemy aircraft was shot down off the coast of Cyrenaica yesterday. On Monday Beaufighters attacked and damaged an enemy mer- - chant vessel off the west coast oi Greece. From these and other operations, one of our aircraft is missing.’ —8.0.W.