DESTRUCTION AT TURIN

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21907, 10 December 1942, Page 3

DESTRUCTION AT TURIN

FLIGHT FROM MILAN APPALLING SPECTACLE (Official Wireless' (Received Dec. 10. noon) RUGBY. Dec. 9 Some 80001 b. bombs, many 40001 b. bombs, and tens of thousands of incendiaries were dropped on objectives in Turin last night, states the Air Ministry. Clear weather and skilfully-placed flares made for precise bombing, and all the crews report large concentrated fires. The night was so clear that the shells of buildings wrecked ' in previous raids were clearly seen. A Lancaster gunner said that as he crossed the Alps he and his crew could see the peaks lit up by the flares dropping over Turin. An observer who has already seen 45 raids said this was one of the best attacks he had taken part in. He said in the middle of the target area there was such a confusion of fire and smoke that he could make out nothing except the extent of the solid mass of flames. Only on the outskirts of the area could he see individual buildings burning. After Mussoljni’s promise that more guns were coming from Germany to defend Italian industries the crews were on the look-out for much heavier opposition, but there were still few anti-aircraft guns and about only half a dozen searchlights. Two twin-engined fighters w’ere seen over the city, but they appeared to make no attack. An Italian communique admits that the Royal Air P'orce raid on Turin caused great damage in the centre of the city, and says that the university and a hospital were hit. Turin has now been bombed six times in the present air offensive against Italy, and 24 times since Italy entered the war. The correspondent of the Daily Mail on the Italian frontier says that 400,000 evacuees have already left Milan for safer regions. Many have obtained permission to enter French Savoy. Mussolini meanwhile has issued a decree placing all workers and employers under military jurisdiction and forbidding them to leave their place of employment. The decree is designed to stop the panic flight from danger zones, which threatened to paralyse industries. The decree affects 4,000,000 workers in 154,000 establishments. Eye-witnesses describe, the flight from Milan as an appalling spectacle. Everything is used, from wheelbarrows to motor-cars. Pope’s Intentions A Holy See spokesman said the Pope would not leave Rome should British planes bomb the capital, says the Evening Standard’s Berne correspondent. The spokesman added: “Diplomats approached the Pope and suggested that he should leave for his country estate, Castle Gandolfo, in view of the danger of remaining in Rome under present conditions. The Pope refused and said: “ I have ordered all my bishops to remain at their posts as good shepherds among their flocks in time of national distress.’ ” The spokesman added that the Pope, who is also Bishop of Rome, does not wish to be the first to disobey an order which he himself has given. Germany, Holland, Belgium Mosquitos of the Bomber Command attacked industrial and railway targets in north-west Germany and Holland yesterday afternoon. Royal Air Force fighters were ovei northern France and Belgium during the day. They attacked railways, barges and a German airfield. In the day’s operations only one bombei was lost. Pilots of the Royal Air Force and the Army Co-operation Command flew 100,000 miles during Novembei and attacked targets in north-wes Germany and occupied Europe. The:, 42 railway engines, score, of freight cars and other transport as weii. as German troops and gunposts. In the Zuyder Zee they se fire to two medium-sized ships anblew up three tugs. It is officially stated that Royal Air Force fighters again attacked ground targets in France and the Low Countries today.