INVASION OF ITALY

Grey River Argus, 31 May 1943, Page 5

INVASION OF ITALY

PEOPLE WARNED

More Men Called Up

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 8.10) LONDON, May 29. The “New York Times” Berne correspondent stated: Italian .official commentators warned the Italian people that an Allied invasion attempt against the mainland or Italy’s islands might be a matter of days. _ The commentators added that it had been revealed by Axis reconnaissance that there were at present at Bizerta, Tunis, Susa, S’fax and Bon a large concentration of tugs and small naval vessels, which, might soon .be employed 'for an invasion. The correspondent adds: The tone and content of official comments' indicate that the military authorities are intently watching tne situation, but that the ultimate defence uepends on the will of the Italian population to resist. In the meantime, military preparations against invasion are continuing. Travellers from Rome reveal that the War Office has not only completed the cali-ing-up of the 1943 class, but also half of the 1944 class. Swiss correspondents in Italy report that civilians in Italy are, attempting to emulate the Londoners by organising their shopping and other functions during the hours when air raids are least expected. This is particularity true at Naples, Palermo.'Messina, and Cagliari, which could not have suffered more from numerous earthquakes in their history than they, are suffering now from air raids.

The “Daily Mail’s” diplomatic correspondent says: Heavy raids against Sicily, Sardinia, and Pantellaria show the pattern of the Allied strategy in the Mediterranean. Italy is expecting the worst. At present Italy is putting uP a show, organising a supreme effort. It would be unwise to minimise the courage and the tenacity of the Italians when defending their homeland.

The majority of the experts, however, adds the correspondent, believe that the Allies would be unwise to attempt a full occupation of Italy. The Allies may, therefore, after occupying Sicily, pause before taking further steps.

Take to the Hills

PEOPLE OF ITALY AND SICILY.

LONDON, May 28. Tens 'of thousands of Sicilians and Sardinians have taken to the hills, where they are living in small villages, to escape the Allied bombing, states the Rome correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper “Dagens Nyheter.” Eye-witnesses from the south of Italy said that- mass migration, which is increasing daily, has become the authorities’ biggest problem. According to a report from Istanbul, the Italian Education Department has 'ordered the closure of all universities and some high schools in the south of Italy, and the evacuation of students to the north of Italy. The Berlin correspondent of a Swedish paper states that German official circles have warned the Axis authorities that they will have to be careful and strong to withstand, the war of nerves which the Allies are waging, particularly against Italy and the Balkans. German sources acknowledge that tfie Allies during the past twenty-four hours have complejnented the bombing raids against Italy with a heavy propaganda leaflet offensive.

The Morocco radio reports that Fascist leaders attended a meeting with Mussolini, at which a decision was taken to resist to the last and defend Sardinia and Sicily.

MORE ALLIED RAIDS.

LONDON. May 28.

The United States Air Force was prominent in the Mediterranean air offensive yesterday, when it staged a heavy raid, which observers believe may have knocked out the Decirnomannu aerodrome. Marauders, escorted by Warhawks, swarmed over the aerodrome, and unleashed more than 400. fragmentation bombs among dozens of aeroplanes on the runways or dispersed over the airfield, many of which were destroyed or damaged;

The Italian and German air forces reacted strongly, and the Americans were pursued from the target to within twenty-five miles of the African coast b'v thirty Messerschmitts and Macchis, which attacked aggressively. The Americans shot down thirteen in eighteen minutes for the loss of one Warhawk, the pilot or which, was rescued from the sea. No opposition was encountered when Mitchells, escorted by Lightti ings, attacked the Villacidro aerodrome where several fires were started and some aircraft were destroyed on the ground. . . Pantelleria got its usual visit from Lightnings and Warhawks, bombs falling in the harbour defence area, and among gun positions.

Bombing of Civilians

VARIOUS VIEWS.

LONDON, May 28. “Much as we would wish to see the abolition of bombing altogether, we realise that there is n ° reahsm m such an attitude,” states the Church of England Newspaper, commenting on the bombing controversy. It is a reversal of the Christian view which argues that civilians must not be killed while acquiescing in the killing of soldiers. If the world persists in war let its penalties and con sequences be equally distributed. We cannot sympathise with the agitation that the bombing of towns should be stopped on the grounds that it kills some civilians. We have all become one of the bomber’s sight.” The Italian newspaper. Messagero” states that the majority of Palermo’s 17th and 18th ctentury churches and palaces have disappeared as a result of the British and American raids. The damage following the raid on May 9, which was the fiercest attack against the residential quarter, has been filmed constituting irrefutable witness of the Allies’ cold and premeditated barbarism against cultural treasures and civilians. , , . ... German propaganda about the Allied air assaults reached a fresh stage of confusion to-night when the German radio said: “We ourselves know that our .air raids on England in 1940 were ineffective and the discovery was a bitter one. If the English and Americans had any sense they would know that the same is true about their present activities over Europe.” The statement was made in English during an overseas-broadcast. In commenting on the German broadcast the British Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) said that in October, 1940, the German radio announced that the authorities in London were helpless to control the utter disorder caused by the enemy’s bombing raids. Five months later the Italian radio broadcast that the traffic in the streets of London was in hopeless disorder. The Berlin radio also announced that 7,000,000 Londoners were seized

with fear and were wandering aimlessly about the streets and falling victims to the Nazi bombs. . Mr Eden recalled that Mussolini on November 8, 1940, before any bombs had fallen on his homeland, said that he had obtained the permission of the Fuhrer for the direct participation of Italian air and submarine forces against. Britain. Mussolini then declared that he was grateful to Hitler for granting this request. Now, said Mr Eden, Italy was wide open to air attacks and these would be pressed home with all the means in the Allied power. It was for the Italian people to decide whether these attacks would be -stopped or whether they would be pressed home to their bitter end> The Minister of Town and Country Planning (Mr W. S. Morrison) said that specialists were preparing plans for the rebuilding of a- greater London and Merseyside. Sneaking of the task of his Ministry. Mr Morrison said: “We must plan for the rebuilding—fine rebuilding—of our wardamaged towns. We must see to it that our towns become pleasant, healthy, convenient places in which to live' and work. We must also plan for better living conditions in the rural .areas.” There must also be planning for the adequate protection of natural beauty and for the provision of access to national parks, the coast, and other part of Britain.

Surrender by Italy

ALLIED SUGGESTION NOT RELISHED. LONDON, Mayi 27. As hundreds of Allied bombers were continuing the round-the-clock offensive against Italy’s Mediterranean Islands a spokesman from the Allied Headquarters in North Africa warned the Italians to withdraw trom the war. Speaking over the Algiers radio he said: “Unless you surrender now the Allied bombers will darken the sky over Italy. The air attacks will continue until all Axis obstacles have been swept away. Ask your friends in the cities already bombed what it is like? Ask your soldiers who fought in Libya and in Tunisia what the German alliance means? They were abandoned by; their Allies after lorries and supplies had been taken from them.” The Rome radio, commenting tor the first time on Mr. Churchill s statement that the Italians would have a place in the life of the new Europe if they overthrew their leaders and sued for peace, said: We have had experience ot British justice, and never again are we having any. Churchill’s words say precisely what the Italians think the British ought to do. However, we are not such fools as to expect that. We know perfectly well that public opinion in England counts for nothing under the dictatorship of Churchill, money power, Jews and Roosevelt. The Rome radio, denied the rumour that enemy forces were crossing the Sicilian Channel. It referred to Corsica, Sardinia, Elba, Sicily, and Pantellaria as “gigantic aircraft carriers and fortresses.” The commentator said Italians must resist to the last, this war of nerves and there attempts to undermine morale.”