GERMAN CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1943, Page 4

GERMAN CLAIMS

OCCUPATION OF ROME AND OF NORTHERN <&. BALKAN TERRITORIES. FURTHER IJENUNCIATIONS OF “TREACHERY” (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 10. A German communique announces that Rome has capitulated to the Germans. Just prior to the German announcement, messages from Allied Headquarters in North Africa stated that the Badoglio Government was still in power but that a German army was attacking Rome with the object of establishing a puppet regime. A communique from Hitler’s headquarters stated: “The treacherous Badoglio Government, as a preparation for desertion, has during the past few weeks concentrated, powerful forces around Rome. The city itself has been put into a state of defence against German troops stationed outside Rome. One explanation given was the danger from the enemy west of Rome. Since the capitulation of Italy on September 8, fighting between German and Italian troops has ensued for the possession of Rome. The German supreme commander in the south, Field Marshal Kesselring, brought up reinforcements, launched an /ittack against Rome and presented an ultimatum to the commander of the city. Under this pressure, the Italian commander-in-chief in Rome capitulated. This capitulation covers an area of 30 miles around Rome. The disarmament «of Italian troops is progressing. Communications with the German army in the NaplesSalerno area have been established. The German army will take over the protection of the Vatican City.”

t The communique adds: “In Upper Italy, Marshal Rommel forced Italian units to surrender after a short fight which was waged with deep indignation by the divisions of his army group. | Railways and roads leading from Carinthia and Tyrolia to Upper Italy are in our hands undestroyed, and the coast, including Genoa and Spezia, has been occupied. The Adige Valley and towns in the area of Bologna, Verona and Cremona have been mopped up. Trieste was captured after a short' fight. Over 90,000 Italians were disarmed in this area alone. The Italian army in Southern France surrendered its arms without incident to troops under Marshal von Rundstedt. We have occupied the coast from Toulon to Mentone. > ' , “In the Balkans the bulk of the commanding Italian authorities have sympathetically submitted to the demands of the German commander-in-chief, Field-Marshal Von Weich. The divisions of the Italian group at Tirana and of the Eleventh Italian Army, in Athens, in the main laid down their arms. The German Navy has taken over Italian warships and merchantmen in the Aegean Sea. All Italian aerodromes and most of the important harbours on the Adriatic coast have been occupied. Fighting is still in progress in only a very few cases. Instances of Italian units going over to the German army everywhere are becoming more frequent. They do this in order to continue to fight. Thereby a treachery viler and meaner than which could hardly be found in history has come back upon the traitors themselves. The Italian armed forces no longer exist, but words of contempt for traitors will exist for all time.”