Current Events July 26, 1943;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JULY 26, 1943:

Martial law was proclaimed throughout harassed Italy today in

swift succession to a government shakeup which eliminated Benito Mussolini

and hisfascist cabinet and installed

the conservative Marshal Pietro Badoglio as premier.

Allied troops are squeezing tighter upon Axis

last-stand defenses in northeastern Sicily against bitter

resistance, it was announced today, and American troops

mopping up western Sicily have captured Termini, 20

miles east of Palermo, and taken 7,000 more prisoners

including six Italian generals and an admiral.

American bombers, in the 'mightiest a:rial assault on the southwest

Pacific war. dropped 186 tons of bombs on Japanese positions a

Munda, New Georgia, yesterday. More than 200 planes participated in the attack.

One failed to return.

THE DAILY TIMES-NEWS

                  Burlington, North Carolina, Monday July 26, 1943

IL DUCE REPORTED HELD

IN FLIGHT FROM ITALY

ALLIES SQUEEZING ENEMY

Italian Government Faces

Crisis Following Flight

Of Chieftain Of Fascists

Conservative Gets

Role As Leader

Of Italians.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

London, July 26—

Martial law was proclaimed throughout harassed Italy today in

swift succession to a government shakeup which eliminated Benito Mussolini

and hisfascist cabinet and installed

the conservative Marshal Pietro Badoglio as premier.

King Vittorio Emanuele made the change in the war leadership, the first major

break on the Axis front and a possible prelude to an Italian

bid for peace.

There was no Axis announcement of what had become of Mussolini

but unconfirmed reports from Stockholm said he had been arrested

while trying to flee to Germany. Roundabout Stockholm reports also

told of demonstrations in northern Italy with thousands of Italians

shouting "down with Hitler," out with the Germans," and "we want

peace."

U.S.Troops

Using Mop

In Western

Sicily Area

Whole Allied Line

Putting Pressure

On Defenders.

BY DANIEL DE LUCE

A l l i e d Headquarters in

North Africa, July 26 —(AP) —

Allied troops are squeezing tighter upon Axis

last-stand defenses in northeastern Sicily against bitter

resistance, it was announced today, and American troops

mopping up western Sicily have captured Termini, 20

miles east of Palermo, and taken 7,000 more prisoners

including six Italian generals and an admiral.

Munda Feels

Hardest Raid

By MURLIN SPENCER

Allied Headquarters in the Southwest

Pacific, July 26.—(ff)

American bombers, in the 'mightiest a:rial assault on the southwest

Pacific war. dropped 186 tons of bombs on Japanese positions a

Munda, New Georgia, yesterday. More than 200 planes participated in the attack.

One failed to return.

The communique from Genera Douglas MacArthur's headquarter

made no comment on the . Result of the raid beyond saying that "the

area was thoroughly bombed."

Six hundred miles to the west the royal Australian air force executed the

heaviest attack yet made on the Gasmata airdrome on the

south coast of New Britain. Roaring in at dawn, Beauforts, Beau

fighters and Bostons with Kitty hawks as cover, destroyed the radio

station and grounded aircraft.

"The runway and dump area and enemy personnel were thoroughly

strafed," the communique said. "Anti-aircraft positions were silenced."