ALLIES’ WARNING

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22093, 17 July 1943, Page 5

ALLIES’ WARNING

MESSAGE TO ITALIANS ADVISED TO SURRENDER “THE TIME HAS COME” (United Press Assn, Fie'-. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, July 16 A special message directed to the Italian people by President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill has been broadcast by the Algiers radio and will go out every two hours from that station and the 8.8. C. “This is a message to the Italian people from the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Great Britain,” says the message. “At this moment the combined armed forces of the United States, Great Britain and Canada, under the command of General Eisenhower and his deputy, General Alexander, are carrying the war deep into the territory of your country. “Mussolini came into this war as the satellite of a brutal destroyer of peoples and liberty. Mussolini plunged you into a war he thought Hitler had already won. In spite of Italy’s great vulnerability to attack by air and sea, the Fascist leaders sent your sons, your ships, your air forces, to different battlefronts to aid Germany in her attempt to conquer England, Russia and the world. This association was designed by Nazi-controlled Germany and was unworthy of Italy’s ancient traditions of freedom and culture —traditions to which the peoples of the United States and Great Britain owe so much. Betrayed by Germans “Your soldiers have fought not in the interests of Italy, but for Nazi Germany. They have fought courageously, but have been betrayed by the Germans on the Russian front and on every battlefield in Africa, from El Alamein to Cape Bon. Today Germany’s hopes for world conquest have been blasted on all fronts. “The forces now opposed to you are pledged to destroy txie power of Nazi Germany, which has ruthlessly been used to inflict slavery, destruction and death on all those who refuse to recognise the Germans as the master race. The sole hope for Italy’s survival lies in honourable capitulation to the overwhelming power of the military forces of the United Nations.

“If you continue to support the Fascist regime, you must suffer the consequences of your choice. We take no satisfaction in invading Italy’s soil and bringing the war home to the Italian people, but we are determined to destroy the false leaders and their doctrine which have brought Italy to her present position. Can Have Only One End

“Every moment you resist the armed forces of the United Nations, every drop of blood you sacrifice, can have only one end—to give the Fascist and Nazi leaders a little more time to escape from the inevitable consequences of their own crimes. All your interests and all your possessions have been betrayed by Nazi Germany and your own corrupt leaders. It is only by disavowing both that a reconstructed Italy can hope to keep her place in the family of European nations. “The time has come for the Italian people to consider their own selfrespect and interest and desires for a restoration of national dignity, security and peace. The time has come for you to decide whether Italians shall die for Mussolini and Hitler or live for civilisation.” MALTA PLANES’ SUCCESS TOLL TAKEN OF THE ENEMY (Official Wlr«*le«s> (Received July 17, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, July 16 Malta - based Beaufighters and Mosquitos destroyed at least 12 enemy aircraft cn Wednesday night, says a message from the island. This was the climax to five of the most successful nights for intruder work, a total of 35 German and Italian bombers being destroyed. This was in addition to 106 enemy planes shot down by Malta Spitfires since the beginning of the Sicilian invasion. One of the most successful Beaufighter pilots, Wing - Commander Green, destroyed four Junkers 88 and damaged a fifth in on? sortie on Wednesday. Another pilot destroyed three Junkers the same^night. AMERICANS IN~EUROPE CHANGE IN FIELD COMMAND fOfficial Wireless) (Received July 17, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, July 16 Major-General Leonard T. Gerow has succeeded Major-General Russell P. Hartle as commander of the American field force in the European thfcatre of operations. IN EVENT OF INVASION INSTRUCTIONS TO SWEDEN (Received July 17, 11 a.m.) LONDON, July 16

Instructions to the Swedish people what to do in tire event of an invasion were broadcast by the Swedish radio last night by a Government official, who said that civilians should report as fighting volunteers at the nearest military units. Civilians could also form partisan groups. “The population in a locality not occupied by an enemy can on their own initiative take up arms and fight the enemy even if the population has not had time to organise partisan corps,” it said.