Evening star., 1944-06-03
Axis Claim Is Reply to Papa| Plea;
Americans Continue DriveonCitv
Fate Of Capital Up
To Enemy Forces,
Allies Declare
By the Associated Press.


LONDON, June 3.-A Berlin
broadcast today quoted a For
eign Office spokesman as saying
that Rome Is free from German
armed forces. The broadcast
was recorded by Reuters.
The broadcast said the statement
was made in connection with the
Popes plea not to destroy Rome,
and quoted the spokesman as say
ing:
"On the German side everything
has been done for months to pre-
serve Rome from such fate. Rome
today can be regarded as city free
from armed forces"
The Allied command in Italy de-
clared today that "the Allies have
only taken and will only take mill
tary action against Rome in so far
as the Germans use the city, rail-
ways and roads for their military
purposes.
eff the Germans choose to defend
Rome the Allies will be obliged to
take appropriate military measures
to eject them," the Allied state
ment declared.
Would Eliminate NaZis.
Pope Plus in his appeal declared
that whoever would dare lift a
hand against Rome would be guilty
of matricide."
The complete text of the Allied
statement issued at headquarters in
Naples:
Allied military authorities, con-
fronted by the ruthless enemy in
Italy, are interested solely in the
destruction and elimination of Ger
man forces in that country.
They have taken and will con-
tinue to take every possible precau-
ton during the course of their
campaign to spare innocent civilians
and cultural and religious monu-
ments of permanent value to civili-
zation.
Conscious Of Rome's Position.
"In particular they are deeply
conscious of the unique position
occupied by Rome as one of the
chief historical religious and cul-
tural centers of the world, and OF
the fact that Rome is the seat OF
his holiness, the Pope, and contains
the neutral state of the Vatican
City.
1T Is, therefore, the firm intention
of Allied governments and of Allied
military authorities to continue to
take every precaution in their pow
er, consistent with essential mill
tary requirements, to safeguard the
population of Rome and its his
torical and religious monuments.
THE Allies have only taken and
will only take military action
against Rome insofar as the Ger
mans use the city, railways and
roads for their military purposes
If the Germans choose to defend
Rome the Allies will be obliged to
take appropriate military measures
to eject them. 1t, therefore, is the
sincere hope of his majesty's gov
ernment and the United States
Government that the enemy will
not make such an ill-considered
choice"
No Proof of Demilitarization.
Premier Pietro Badoglio attempted
to have Rome declared an open city
before the Italian capitulation last
September and the Germans have
issued a number of claims, some
conflicting, that the city would be
demilitarized. Neither the Italians
before their capitulation nor the
Germans since their occupation OF
the capital have, however, offered
proof that 1t has been divested OF
military units and establishments.
Last March President Roosevelt
sSsailed the Germans for their use
of Rome as military center anc
last February the Ankara radio sale
the Germans had issued thinly-
veiled threat to Pope Plus. in theil
efforts to have him quit the Vati.
can, that the capital would be de-
Tended, regardless Of the destruction
entailed.
In answer to plea from Prime
Minister Eamon Ge Valera of Fire
that Rome be spared, Berlin again
SAID on April 18 that the city hac
been demilitarized. President Roose.
velt messaged Mr.. De Valera thu
following day that the Allies were
deeply concerned over the possibil.
ity the city might suffer, but sale
that Its fate was up to the Germans
II the German forces were moi
entrenched in Rome, no question
would arise concerning the CITY.
preservation the President said,