Evening star., 1943-09-18
BY CLARK LEE,

Representing the Combined American Press
Distributed by the Associated Press)
AT AN ADVANCED ALLIED
COMMAND POST IN THE MED
1TERRANEAN AREA, Sept. 18.-
Benito Mussolini is a very sick
man, completely discredited in
the eyes of the Italians, it was
stated today by Italians, who at
the same time revealed the COM
plete story of the former Italian
dictator's overthrow and arrest.
'Mussolini is more of a liability
than an asset. Even the Fascists
renounced him." said Italians who
have reached North Africa. THE
Germans are welcome to him, but
We doubt If he will be of much use
10 them"
Gestapo and German military and
diplomatic officials have been led on
wild goose chase in their efforts to
locate Mussolini since he was arrest
ed in the streets of Rome on the
evening of July Is and forced, de-
spite his protests, into an ambulance
with frosted glass windows in which
he was spirited to a safe hiding
place.
Mussolini was made fairly COM
Portable in his place of captivity,
but during the first few days his re-
actions were said to have been vio-
lent at times. Gradually, however,
he began to adjust himself to the
situation and his emotional out
bursts became fewer, although his
attitude never became one of philo-
sophical resignation.
Wrote Defense of Fascism.
The former Duce asked for writing
materials and spent most of his time
writing a long defense of Fascism
and his own actions.
Mussolini, suffering from stomach
trouble, is very thin and drawn.
(The German radio in a broad
cast heard by the Associated
Press said Berlin newspapers to-
day were publishing a photo
graph of Mussolini, described as
showing him after his liberation
by the Germans. The picture
was said to show a smiling Duce
surrounded by German SIS men
and parachute troops.
(The Nazi-controlled Rome
radio said last night in broad
cast recorded by the United States
Foreign Broadcast Intelligence
Service that Mussolini. who has
not made any public statements
since his arrest and subsequent
liberation, would soon let his
voice be heard")
Some days after Mussolini's arrest
his girl friend was taken into Gus
tody at the luxurious villa he had
given her since he began keeping
her about year ago. She was re-
leased after few hours following
a search of the villa for documents
and questioning.
AS soon as the Germans recovered
from the shock of Mussolinis dis
appearance, the Italian refugees
said, the Nazis began frantic hunt.
.>:..i,as threats. wiles and bribery in
an unsuccessful effort to find him.
Hitler himself even took a hand in
the chase
Emissary Sent by Hitler.
The Fuehrer sent a high-ranking
onicer to Rome with a book and a
message for Mussohni. The book
was by Nietzsche and carried an in
scription praising Mussolini for hav-
Ing followed Nietzche's philosophy to
Tive dangerously"
Hitler's emissary insisted to Of
ficials of the Badoglio government
that he had to see Mussolini person.
ally and that Hitler so demanded
The Italians temporized, apologized
and said they were sorry, that it was
impossible as they themselves did
not know his whereabouts but If the
Germans cared to leave the book
and message they would try to make
delivery.
At the time, the Germans were
greatly confused by the develop
ments in Italy. Their reinforcements
had not yet been brought In and
they hesitated to apply too much
pressure. So Hitler's envoy departed
without carrying out his mission.
The Germans were 50 worried they
even distrusted their own diplomatic
personnel In Rome and hurriedly re.