LANDING IN ITALY.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 23, 12 November 1943, Page 3

LANDING IN ITALY.

A TWO-MAN INVASION

BRITISH SOLDIERS EXPLOIT Two British soldiers, who landed in I til 13* six days ahead of the Eighth Army and received the promise of Italian troops not lo lire on the invasion forces, were liberated recently from prison by civilian guards. The soldiers, a former London policeman and, a former Yorkshire .school teacher, told this story of the virtual complete breakdown of the Italian Army's will to resist. "If the Eighth Army's invasion had been delayed a couple of days longer we couid have persuaded, the Italians lo surrender intact. As it was. any number of Italians wanted to cross the Messina Strait and give themselves up in Sicily. Hi seemed it' all of them were plotting to do that." The two men participated in a reconnaissance raid, on the Southern (laiabrian Coast on the night of August '2<S, running foul of a German truck convoy of infantry that forced the raiders to fight a battle on the. beach in darkness and then scatter into- the hills. "At night," they said, "we slipped down to the village wells to replenisl our water., for the hills were bone dry. We must June been spotted. by some shephcrdj. for on the afternoon oi September 1.. while I oth of lis were asleep under bushes, we suddenly were awakened by a voice, and a number o! litaiian hand gienades sailed over our heads. It was a typical bad aim. for all the; grenades burst 100 high Lo do us any damage, but IT) Italian soldiers took us inlo custody. "We were taken lo town and the, Italian troops and civilians practically feted us. Thi" soldiers said. 'You can be sure we won't lire on any I'inglishmen avlio land in itlaly.' The civilians told us they detested the Germans, -whom they accused of looting their home.*."