FIRST STEP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1943, Page 3

FIRST STEP

TAKEN TOWARDS PEACE “SHAME OF FASCISM ENDED” RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT IN ROME. STREET DEMONSTRATIONS REPORTED. (By Telegranh—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 26. A message reporting street demonstrations in Italy was quoted by the 8.8. C. Censorship later completely stopped news from neutral correspondents in Italy.

In New York and Moscow big crowds have gathered to hear the latest news about Italy. The fall of Mussolini is greeted throughout the free world with acclamation, but there is no attempt to minimise the task before the Allies.

Badoglio this morning issued a proclamation which virtually places Italy under martial law. It states that this is not the moment to indulge in demonstrations, nor will they be tolerated. The authorities have orders to disperse all assemblies of more than three persons. A civilian curfew from dusk to dawn is imposed throughout Italy. No one is allowed to carry firearms in the streets. The Italian Army, it is announced, has taken over all public order.

The Berne correspondent of the “New York Times” says that the announcer on Rome radio, after announcing Mussolini’s dismissal, said: “With the fall of Mussolini and his band Italy takes the first step toward peace. Finished is the shame of Fascism. Viva la pace! Viva il Re.” Demonstrations have already broken out in many parts of Italy, where the population went into the streets to celebrate the end of Fascism, says the same correspondent. A report from Milan Which was received in Switzerland just before communications were cut said j that bloodshed occurred when German anti-aircraft units fired on a crowd. The correspondent adds that Mussolini and his entire Cabinet, and also many other Fascist leaders, were rounded up in Rome last evening taken to a point outside the city, where they were held under military arrest as “their lives are feared to be in danger.” The 8.8. C. transmitters are pumping cut the news of Mussolini’s resignation i in many languages and on a wide range of wavelengths. The first of these transmissions was in Spanish. SENSATION IN BRITAIN. The news of Mussolini’s fall was picked up at 10.52 o’clock last night by the B.B.C’s. monitoring service, and was flashed on to Mr Churchill. A full copy of the Rome radio’s broadcast was later sent to him. The news caused a terrific flurry in Whitehall, and scattered Ministers were hurriedly informed.

The in a broadcast to Italy early this morning, said: “Any Italian Government that keeps Italy bound to Germany must be eliminated. The Italian soldiers must abandon the fight. One enemy alone now remains for the Allies and for Italy—Nazi Germany.” The Berlin radio at 3.30 a.m. for the first time announced Mussolini’s resignation. It added that it was assumed he had resigned because of his health. A clandestine Italian radio station, describing itself as “the station of Italy, Balboa Group,” this morning started broadcasts on the wavelengths which the Italian home service normally uses. The announcer said that Mussolini was a coward. It added that the House of Savoy was attempting tp disarm Fascism, “but the Fascist Party will not let itself be disarmed.” MUSSOLINI’S RECORD. Reuter’s Italian commentator says:— “Thus has ended 20 years of Mussolini's rule, in which the Italian nation has lost its empire and has been involved in three wars —Abyssinia, Spain and this one, into which Mussolini threw Italy with the notorious ‘stab in the back’ against France. His overthrow has borne out two facts which had been becoming more evident for months —Fascism has lost its grip on Italy, and Mussolini has lost his grip on Fascism.”

The Rome radio made abundantly clear the purpose of the recent meeting between the dictators. Mussolini must have gone to tell his Fuehrer that he was faced with a crisis and that Ger-

many could count no further upon his assistance. It must have been a meeting of intense drama. It is almost impossible to foretell the future. The House of Savoy appears to have taken a prominent part in the events which led to the resignation of Mussolini. However, neither the King nor the House of Savoy enjoys any wide measure of popularity in Italy. In the industrial north they are definitely unpopular.