The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-09-10

backbone Of what remained Of the
once proud fleet with which Mus
solini had hoped to rule Mare
Nostrum."
The italian fleet previously was
estimated to include three modern
IS ,000-ton Lttorio class battleships
and four cruisers at Speza.
The day to his forces broadcast
by Rome radio warned there were
hard tasks in store for you--tasks
which will impose on your moral
sacrifices compared with which sac
rifices Of blood would be of second.
airy importance"
The order warned the italian
navy that you must show. That
nothing Is unbearable for you when
the future Of your country is at
stake"
Decurten's Order
Decurten'S order presumably was
connected with Allied surrender
terms providing for surrender Of
the fleet. Presumably the movement
Of a majority Of Italian warships
were en- route to Allied ports.
Before the armistice the italian
fleet In addition TO the Spezia
squadron was believed TO have been
anchored in Genoa, laramie and
Trieste.
The LittorioS based at Speza were
the pride Of the italian navy. Mod
ern battlewagons comparable to the
British George v class, they mount
ed nine 15-inch guns.
Allied instructions to the italian
fleet provided alternate ports II
needed. The ships In the Mediter-
ranean were directed to North AZ
RIGA, Gibraltar, TripoN, Malta, Hal
ia, Alexandria or Sicily II other
ports could not be reached. italian
ships in the Black Sea were direct
ed toward Russian ports.
The location Of the attack given
by the Germans might indicate the
Italians vessels were proceeding to
Gibraltar.
Other European reports said Brit
ish warships have entered the Ital-
ian naval base Of laramie on the
south coast and with italian war
ships are patroling the gulf Of
Genoa, while ether Allied units now
control" the Spezia naval base, SO
miles southeast Of Genoa.
RumOrs Persist
Rumors persisted that Anglo
American troops have landed at
Leghorn and Civitavecchia on the
Italian west coast, as well as in the
Naples area, but there was no con-
firmation. Madrid heard that italy
also anticipated landings on the
east coast and other sources said
Allied warshipS have been sighted
deep inside the Adriatic.
Former Premier Benito Mussolini
already has been turned over to the
Allies and now Is in North Africa,
Svenska Dagbladet quoted the Milan
newspaper, Corriere Della Sera, as
saying. Mussolini Is wanted by the
Allies for postwar trial as one of
the top-ranking Axis war criminals.
Reports reached Madrid that Gen.
Ugo Cavallero, one Of Mussolini's
top military leaders and former chief
Of the italian general staff, had been
executed for treason after being con-
victed by court martial.
Marshal Rodolfo GRAHAM, the
Marchese Di Ngehelli, another for
mer Italian chief Of staff who also
served as viceroy Of Ethiopia and
commander Of italian forces In
Libya in 1904, was arrested after
a conference with Premier Marshal
Pietro Badoglio, Madrid heard.
Rush To Genoa
| Gu0Vaaka naOh1oAa eofA EASspIN
Panzer units were rushing toward
Genoa to reinforce the German gar
rison there. The Germans were re-
ported to be in firm control Of all
Genoa, as well as the three main
highways leading into the city, tt
aly's second port.
Verona and Brescia fell to the
Germans after heavy fighting with
the italian garrisons. Svenska Dag
bladet said, while fierce fighting stu
ragged in Bologna with italian REIN
forcements moving northward from
Florence.
The Italians were said 10 have
driven the Germans from Tortona,
IS miles north Of Genoa. In san.
culinary street fighting.
italian troops set up defensive
positions on heights outside Milan
and Turin for 9 determined stand
against any German attempt 70
setse those two industrial esnteTs,
the Swedish newspaper said.
Strike Declared
An Exchange Telegraph dispatch
from Zurich quoted Milan reports
that workers throughout northern
Italy, including Genoa, has declared
. general strike 70 disrupt German
troop movements. Electric plants
supplying railroads closed and all
communications were interrupted,
the dispatch aald.
Rome was reported firmly IN Itals
Ian hands. A eoilImunlq1e bFeads
east by Rome radio said HE IN the
eapilal vas "eolnpletely calm"
aLtfe e golEg on with the usual
faHthm,H TIE eommunlQue said.
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