The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-07-27

He guessed" that Germany has
five or six divisions in Sicily and
italy.
Heard No Reports
Knox said he had heard no re-
ports Of any break in Germanys
internal machinery. He brushed
aside questions on his interpreta-
ton of the Casablanca conferences
unconditional surrender policy by
saying that ''only two men, could
answer that.
President Roosevelt is expected
to reaffirm the assertion of Secre-
tary of State Cordell Hull that the
attacks will be pressed until he
while flag of unconditional sur
render is raised-at his regular
Tuesday press conference at p. m.
The present military and psyche
logical advantages in Italy are all
on the Allied side and United
Nations leaders intend to make the
best possible use of them. Speed in
driving home further attacks upon
a demoralized Italy might succeed
in breaking up reported German
plans to establish a defense line in
northern Italy.
According to information received
here Notifications have been erected
in the mountainous regions south
of the River Po-Some 200 miles
north of Rome-and NaZi troops
will attempt to defend northern
Italy and its rich industrial cities if
Italian resistance collapsed.
Mystery OF MussOlini
AS Benito Mussolini present
whereabouts remained mystery,
diplomatic gossip reaching Wash
ington from foreign capitals told
conflicting stories of MussoliniS
health. The reports ranged from
one stating that the Fascist leader
had become complete mental case,
given to outbursts of maniacal
laughter, to one that Mussolini was
under a physicians care but. able
TO carry on a normal routine.
While the terms of unconditional
capitulation which will be imposed
on Italy call also for the surrender
Of Fascist leaders, officials preferred
not to speculate on Mussolini'S prob
pble fate until more exact informa-
ton regarding his whereabouts and
physical condition is forthcoming
II Mussolini has escaped to some
Neutral country it appeared prob
Pble that no effort would be made
immediately to remove him into
Allied custody. If Mussolini is in
Italy, however, it may be assumed
Plat Allied leaders will insist that
he be turned over to them.
The new Italian cabinet was re-
Earded here as one of functionaries
Father than policy makers It's
make-up indicated that Marshal
Pietro Badoglio was striving desper-
ately to keep the machipery of gov
ernment running and to prevent
Shaos and anarchy.
HUI, whose vision has been large
~ responsible for the emphasis
placed upon the Mediterranean the
}ter In this war, emphasized at his
press conference yesterday that
Fighting is still in progress and must
not he relaxed
Mussollnis whereabouts still were
. mystery. Reliable sources" in
Madrid said he, along with Fascist
General Secretary Carlo Scorza and
other party prominents, had been
detained under police protection at
q villa near Rome, while a Bern
dispatch asserted he had been in
termed at Villa DEste near Lake
Como, in northern Italy.
A proclamation by five new italian
parties, the first to be established
In Italy since the Fascists banned
all opposition parties 20 years ago,
demanded the "ineXorable punish
ment OF Mussolini and all others
responsible for dragging Italy into a
war which was unWished and
forced upon us
The proclamation was published
IN the Turin newspaper Stampa, a
copy OF which was smuggled out of
Italy into Switzerland, and was
signed by the National, Christian
Democracy, Communist Liberal and
Socialist parties.
Attack Badoglio's Statement
italian sources in Bern interpreted
the proclamation as a direct attack
on the statement of Marshal Pietro
Badogllo, new chief Of government,
that Italy would continue the
war"
Other italian newspapers reaching
Switzerland, as well as Rome broad
casts, reported jubilation sweeping
Italy and widespread demonstra-
tions OF loyalty to King Victor EN-
manuel and Badoglio, though these
reports obviously were designed to
convince the world that the Italian
people were unanimously behind
their new government.
Swiss reports also said that Ital-
ians were throwing away Fascist
party insignia and demanding that
the new government speed a purge
of Fascist officials. Industrial work
ers in northern Italy were said to