The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-06-06
F. D. R. JUBM.ANT
OVER ROME'S FALL


the verge of starvation. We and
the British will do everything
we can to bring them relief.
x x We have already begun
to save the lives of the men.
women and children of Rome"
The Italian people "are cap
able of self-government," Mr..
Roosevelt continued. eve do
not lose sight of their virtues
as a peace loving nation"
Speaking of the military OPP
erations still to come in Eu-
rope, the President said:
eve shall have to push
through a long period of great
err effort and fiercer fighting
before we get into Germany it.
self. The Germans have re-
treated thousands of miles, all
the way from the gates of
Cairo, through Libya and Tuni-
STA and Sicily and southern It.
ally.
"They have suffered heavy
losses, but not great enough yet
to cause collapse
In Italy, the President said,
the people had lived so long
"under the corrupt rule of
Mussolini that, in spite of the
tinsel at the top, their econom-
ic condition had grown stead
lily worse. Our troops have
found starvation, malnutrition,
disease, a deterioriating edu-
cation and lowered public
health - all byproducts Of the
Fascist misrule.
"The task of the Allies in
occupation has been stupen-
dous," he continued. 1--WE have
had to start at the very bot
tom, assisting local govern
ments to reform on democratic
lines"
1--WE have had to give them
bread to replace that which
was stolen out of their mouths
by the Germans. We have had
to make it possible for the Ital-
ians to raise and use their own
local crops. We have to help
them cleanse their schools of
Fascist trappings.''
Mr.. Roosevelt said the AM
erican people approve "the
salvage of these human beings
who are only learning to walk
in a new atmosphere of free
DOM"
Some people, he said, may
think of the financial cost of
liberating Italy but he termed
1t 'tform of relief"
1--WE hope" he added, chat
this relief will be an invest
ment for the future - an in
vestment that will pay divi-
dends by eliminating Fascism
and ending any Italian desires
to start another war Of ag-
gression."
1t was the Presidents first
major radio address for
months. In it, he paid tribute
to all the Allied troops who par.
ticipated in the Italian CAM
paign.
II extend the congratulations
and thanks Of the American
people," he said, @'to General
Alexander, who has been in
command of the whole Italian
operation; to General Clark
and General Leese Of the Fifth
and Eighth armies; to General
Wilson. the supreme Allied
commander of the Mediterran-
can theater, and General De-
vers, his American deputy; to
Lieutenant General Eaker; to
Admirals Cunningham and He
witt; and to all their brave
officers and men,"
The President hearkened
back over Rome's rich history
and termed the city "the great
symbol of Christianity"
"And now 1t will be a source
Of deep satisfaction that the
freedom of the Pope and Of
Vatican City is assured by the
armies of the United Nations !"
he said.
Mr.. Roosevelt said the pros
pect of Rome's liberation
meant enough to Hitler and his
generals to force them to fight
desperately against the oncom-
ing Allies.
mo thanks are due to them,"
he said, 'if Rome was spared
the devastation which the Ger
mans wreaked on Naples and
other Italian cities. The Allied
generals Unanswered so skill
fully that the Nazis could only
have stayed long enough to
damage Rome at the Risk OF
losing their armies"