Evening star., 1943-08-08
Celebration in Rome
bet Off by Report
Of Hitler Suicide
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
BARCELONA, Aug. 7-An Italian
business man who arrived here this
week from Rome said today that
signs calling for Death to II Duce
Of Buffoons" were printed on walls
in Rome after Mussolini's fall and
celebrations followed false rumor
that Hitler had committed suicide.
This business man said the end
of Fascism brought a holiday at
mosphere to the Italian capital with
n street car conductor treating his
passengers to drinks and the pas
sengers themselves cheering, sing
ing and hooting as they rode.
Il was among the unfortunates
who slept through the news Sunday
.solinis resignation when left my
house in the suburbs of Rome on
Monday, July g." he said.
= The soldiers who guarded the
barracks near my home were the
first to tell me the news, with joy
and enthusiasm. Down the street
q group of youths were engaged in
tearing down fasces from lamp
posts"
Long, Wild Celebration.
The traveller said no one worked
In Rome that Monday
"It was one long, wild celebra-
.tion and for some, a day of ven-
.geance," he said. Friends, who
lived near the party (Fascist) head
quarters in Rome, told me how
mob gathered before the building
Sunday night and there were fights
between party members and the
mob"
The word peace" was everywhere,
he said.
Groups of Fascists, who held out
In district headquarters and other
party buildings, soon gave up when
the army appeared, although there
was some fighting in Rome, and, we
learned later, in Bari where at least
20 persons were killed and many
more injured.
"Rumors that day were tremen-
dous, for before the Duce quit re-
ports of German invasion of
italy were frequent. After the bomb
ing Of Rome, which killed many
more than the Rome government
admitted, the city was particularly
chaotic.
Crowds Before Vatican.
Before the Vatican demonstra-
tors cried, Viva papa! Viva Rey!
Viva Badoglio!' and even more fire.
quently, Death to tyrant Musso-
lini.'
There was much bitter talk pre-
viously about the fact that Musso-
lini was talking with Hitler when
Rome was bombed. I learned that
during the Fascist Grand Council
meeting Saturday, Carlo Scorza was
in favor of putting down the at
tempt to overthrow the Duce by
arms and had ordered the concen-
tration of the Fascist militia
Roberto Farinacci, on the other
hand, advocated the annexation of
Italy to Germany, but the opposi-
tion, led by Count Galeazzo Ciano
(Mussolini's son-in-law), won out
and the Duce fell.
Celebrate Hitler Report.
- "One of the most amazing Incl
dents of the amazing week in Rome
seems to have gone unnoticed
! abroad That was on Friday, when
all Rome heard a report of unknown
origin that Hitler had committed
suicide.
! Later when it was found to be
false, some said the Germans them
selves circulated the report to de-
termine the temper of the Italian
people. Others said Badoglio had
done 1t for the same reason, but
whatever the reason may have been,
the false rumor had most amaz-
ing effect in Rome.
by that time the people were
calmed down and were awaiting
peace, but this rumor inspired a
new and almost greater wave of
celebrations, demonstrations, pa
rades and cheers which the mill
tary found difficult to halt"
The italian press, to the people
outside, may look as though Italy
plans to continue resistance but
! inside that is patiently impossible
and Badoglio's position is extremely
delicate even though the army is
united, though weakened by de-
. velopments and like the people,
anxious only for peace
AS an example of the internal
signs of Badoglio's intention, Rome,
until July Is, literally was flooded
with all the German newspapers but
since that date and until left not
. single German newspaper could
! be found anywhere. ,..
And even when the. first negotia-
tionS with the Allies failed padooIio