POLA EVACUATED BY ITALIANS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5325, 11 February 1947, Page 5

POLA EVACUATED BY ITALIANS

(Press Assn-

peace tisaty sequel PREPARE 10 G0 BEFORE TITO'S TROOPS ARRIVE

-Rec. 9.80 p.m.)

- .LOND.ON, Feb. 10. The Italian population, comprising 98 per cent of the 33,000 inhabit^nts,- is preparing to leave before Marshal Tito's troops enter Pola, the fortified port in Istria, on the Adriatic 'Sea, which is awarded to Yugoslavia by the Italian peace treaty, says the Associated Press agent - in Pola. The Vatican and Italian Government are assisting in the evacuation and 5000 people have already left for Italy by sea. The Alliecl Military Government, which is remaining aloof, guaranteed to assist only its own employees and police to reach Italy. The inhabitants are taking all their movable possessions. The motives behind the exodns are racial — hatred of Yugoslavs, as Slavs not as Communists. Only a few ^ industrial workers in Cdm-munist-organised factories intend to remain. Italians who are evacuating allege excesses during the 45-day Yugoslav oceupation of Pola in May and June, 1945. Earlier it was stated that Allied troops erected barbed wire barricades and machine-gun posts in the Gorizia area along the prineipal roads dividing the Anglc-American zone aiid the Yugoslav zone. Civilian interzonal traffic had been suspended. This is one of the disputed areas affected by Yugoslavia's announced intention of refusing to sign the Italian peace treaty. e Pola, which is near the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula, on the Bay of Porto delle Rcse, was Italy's nrost i'mportant naval base on ihe Adriatic during the war.' It was bombed many times by the Allies. Foimerly it was an -Austrian naval station and the Austrian fleet was shtit up there_ during World War I. It was occupmd by the Italians in November, 1918. Allied forces moved into Pola shortly after the occupation° of Trieste in May, 1945.