NOT ALWAYS NICE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 165, 8 October 1941, Page 3

NOT ALWAYS NICE

ITALIAN SOLDIERS

SOME UNPLEASANT TRICKS

The Italians were docile as prisoners; of Avar, but they thought up some nasty little tricks before they were gathered in by. the New Zealand boys, according to accounts given by men who have just returned,,

For instance, they used to leave thermos flasks and fountain pens lying around in conspicuous places. They differed from the commercial being filled with high explosive, Avliich blew up at the slightest touch. After the first few casualties, the troops Avcre aAvakc to these "booby" traps. Another little habit of the Italians Avas to leavf takes of soap about. These had acid In them, and burned the skin oh when used for Avashing.

"The rides with which the Italians tvere equipped were almost as deadly as some of their "bobby traps," said one man who had taken part in the last round-up of a large number of Italian conscripts. "Several of our boys were badly hurt Avhen the rifles exploded on firing, or the bolts blew out. The rest of their equipment particularly the motor equipment, which Ave repaired and used, was first class."

He confirmed the previous tales that the Italian prisoners were easy tb look after. He Avas one of an escort that took a shipload of 1500 to Durban, in South Africa, Avhere they were put to building roads.

He said it -was rather pathctic to see some of them who could not be ncccmmodatcd on the trucks that

carted them away. "They used to run alongside jabbering excitedly because there wasn't room for them," fie added. "They hated being left behind."

This man's company; was mentioned in dispatches for an unusual exploit off the beach at Solium. The captain of an Italian transport was badly seared when British planes started to bomb him, and immediately turned his ship for the shore and ran her aground. The company happened to be handy, and collected some hundreds of Italian prisoners as they waded ashore, without any trouble at all.