SMASHING ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1943, Page 3

SMASHING ATTACKS

RAIDS EVERY HALF HOUR BIG FIRES BURNING. CLASHES IN NORTHERN ITALY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 19. The Allied air forces have kept up the smashing attacks against the Italian mainland in the past 24 hours. Pilots reported that fires which were started in recent bombings were still burning all along the toe of Italy. Bombers have been attacking Reggio di Calabria, across the straits, every half hour. The Germans are putting up an intense anti-aircraft barrage. and their coastal guns are shelling Messina, while our artillery is returning the fire. Allied warships have heavily bombarded targets on the Italian coast to the north of the Straits of Messina.

The port workers in Genoa staged a mass strike yesterday in support of the peace demands, reports the British United Press correspondent on the Italian frontier. The militia disobeyed orders to fire on the strikers, who marched to the central squares, where they held a big peace demonstration while the police looked on helpless. The Berlin correspondent of the “New York Times” says that peace demonstrators in Turin barricaded themselves in ruined buildings in the centre of the city and fought off Italian troops with machine guns, ammunition for which is reported to have been dropped by parachute. When the barricade was eventually stormed, Italian soldiers, it is reported joined the demonstrators in a hand-to-hand fight against a German patrol which was rushed up. The latest reports, says the correspondent, indicate that the German strength in northern Italy is now nearing 25 divisions after three days of tremedous activity across the Brenner Pass. This, according to competent foreign military quarters, is the minimum strength with which the Germans, in the case of Italian defection, would be able to put up any kind of a show north of the Appenines. The Germans are preparing to defend Italy at all costs, regardless of what Marshal Badoglio does, says a Swiss report. The Lausanne “Gazette” states that 15 German divisions are now stationed jn Italian territory and an equal number are ready to march in if necessary. Italian troops are massed in the Brenner Pass and along the French Riviera coast. The German news agency says that

competent circles in the Welhelmstrasse openly admit that the loss of Sicily is a blow to the Tripartite Powers. The news agency adds: “The enemy has won this round, but coun-ter-measures are already being taken in the Mediterranean region.” Reuter’s correspondent at Lugano, Switzerland, reports a continuance of peace demonstrations in northern Italy, and also frequent and bloody clashes between the populace and police. Destitute crowds continue to flee from the bombed cities to the Swiss frontiers.

Refugees state that the dust in the bombed cities has been one of the greatest problems. The R.A.F.'s huge bombs literally pulverize masonry, making it impossible to breathe without a wet cloth over the mouth. A message from Lisbon says that an Italian diplomatic mission of five, including Dr. Angelis, of the Foreign Office, arrived in Lisbon yesterday. They left Rome after the second Allied bombing raid last Friday. The Rome correspondent of the Madrid newspaper “Ya” says that the evacuation of military personnel from Rome and the transfer of the military command has already begun. Rome radio has again emphasised that the Italian Government would do everything necessary under international law to ensure that Rome could be regarded as an open city. “It is hoped that the British and Americans will behave loyally and observe international law,” declared the radio.