ITALY AT WAR.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 October 1941, Page 6

ITALY AT WAR.

ROME RELIES ON PRESENCE OF POPE AS PROTECTION AGAINST AIR RAIDS. SOME ECONOMIC FACTORS. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, October 6' People in Rome regard the presence of the Pope as their protection, for which reason they are, on the whole, little concerned about air raids, says a former Rome correspondent of “Le Temps,” M. Gentizon. Romans, he says, refer to the Pope as “our Pontifico lightning conductor.” Nevertheless the air raid sirens are tested every day-and the blackout is rigorously enforced, even at the Vatican.

The people of Italy are not supposed to listen to foreign radio broadcasts, but no penalty is provided for offenders unless they spread what they hear. M. Gentizon estimates that Germany is sending Italy a million tons of coal a month, but he thinks- the electrification of railways with hydroelectric powei’ is the main factor enabling Italy to resist the economic blockade. He says he saw little misery in Rome, but noticed that there was not much food in the shops. Clothing has become simplified, with the use of much artificial fibre.