WAR ON GERMANY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1943, Page 3

WAR ON GERMANY

DECLARED BY ITALY SURRENDER TO THE ALLIES NOT AFFECTED. ACCEPTED AS CO-BELLIGERENT. LONDON, October 13. Italy has declared war on Germany, and Britain, the United States and Russia, in announcements made simultaneously in their respective capitals, have accepted Italy as a co-belligerent. This action by the Allies, it is stated, makes no difference to the terms of the Italian surrender. These remain in full force and will be reviewed only in light of what assistance Italy is able to give the United Nations. The declared aim of the Allies is that after the war the Italian people shall have an unhampered opportunity of choosing the Government they desire. ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS. In the House of Commons. Mr R. K. Law, Minister of State, was asked whether the Allies were demanding the surrender as war criminals of two generals who are members of the Bacloglio Government. Mr Law said the Government was aware of the charges made against these generals. The charges were being investigated and if they were found to be substantiated appropriate action would follow. To another question Mr Law replied that Britain did not recognise the King of Italy as Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania. These titles, it was stated, had been employed in a proclamation issued by the Badoglio Government owing to the error of a minor official. NEW STATUS ACQUIRED BY ITALIANS. OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY. October 13. The Italian declaration of war will, it is hoped, clarify the situation in the minds of Italians, whose duty will be more than ever clear. A co-belligerent is not an ally. Co-belligerency, not being a legal status, is conceived as a state of affairs deriving validity from the fact of active co-operation in war. To the extent that her co-operation is forthcoming, Italy will benefit from the new situation recognised by Britain, the United States and Russia. Messages from Algiers indicate that, at Allied Headquarters, it is expected that German violence and savagery will provoke the Italians to fight back. At all events, the manner in which Italian troops and civilians have been and are being treated by the Germans cannot fail to be contrasted with the relations now existing between the Italians and their new co-belligerents. This consideration has special relevance in those areas where Italians have not been .overpowered by German forces, particularly Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece, in many parts of which countries the Italians are working with local patriots against the Ger-, man garrisons. Italian troops remaining armed in territory occupied by the Allies, for instance in Sardinia, where they helped to take over the island, will now have a more definite status. The same applies to the Italian Fleet, which retains all its armaments and crews, and to Italian airmen who obeyed instructions to fly to Allied bases. All these units are now armed forces of a nation fighting Germany at the side of the United Nations. They can therefore be allotted, as necessary, to such duties as the Allied High Command thinks fit. The question of Italian prisoners of war held by the Allies is under consideration. FULL CIRCLE . COMPLETED BY ITALY IN 27 MONTHS FIRST EXAMPLE OF KIND THIS CENTURY (By Telegraph—Press Association- —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, October 13. A state of war exists between Italy and Germany from 3 p.m., G.M.T., today. Marshal Badoglio’s announcement to this effect was handed to the German Ambassador in Madrid. The declaration stated that Italy considered herself at war against Germany owing “to repeated and intensified acts of war committed by the armed forces of Germany against Italians.” Italy’s declaration of war against Germany is the first example this century of a nation fighting on both sides in the same war. It has taken Italy just over 27 months to complete the full circle since Mussolini scabbed France in the back and joined in the war alongside Germany. A year ago Italian troops, under Rommel, were facing the British at El Alamein, where, ten days later, General Montgomery launched the attack that drove the Axis from North Africa. Now organised and equipped Italian units outside Italy have been waiting for today’s declaration to join in the battle alongside the British and Americans. Their knowledge of the present battleground, and also their services behind the lines, will be of considerable value to the Allied commanders. The Italian fleet, already voluntarily under Allied control, is reported to be prepared to throw its full weight into the Battle of the Mediterranean.