Current Events July 27, 1943;

Benito Mussolini tried to save his own

job by getting King Victor Emmanuel to abdicate but the plan

back-fired, Algiers radio reported Monday.

Italians poured into the streets of| Italy's biggest cities Sunday night and j

all day Monday with cries for peace and shouts of joy and spontaneous

parades celebrating the downfall of Mussolini, who is reported held under

a strong guard at his villa near Rome.

Marshal Badoglio and a new cabinet ruled turbulent Italy Monday night under

a martial law imposed to prevent civil war between Joyous liberals

who want to make peace immediately with the allies and discredited

fascists left leaderless by the mysterious and sudden exit of Benito

Mussolini and his ministers, Stockholm and Bern dispatches

reported the broken Mussolini had been arrested while trying to flee

to German sanctuary from the nation he brought to the brink of disaster

after 21 years of dictatorship.

Axis airmen have bombed thousands of churches, monasteries

ecclesiastical buildings and in other Great Britain, France, Poland, Norway,

Greece and other united nations, the office of war information said Monday.

Driving ahead under the support of a heavy bombardment from sea and air

American troops pushed their front line 500 yards closer to the core of

Japanese defenses at the strategic Munda airfield Monday, it was announced

Tuesday

                         The Billings Gazette

     BILLINGS, MONTANA, TUESDAY MORNING, JULY 27, 1943

Martial Law Declared as

Italians Threaten Revolt

Mussolini Lost Out Whe

He Tried to Get King

Of Italy to Abdicate

London, July 26.—(U.P)—

Benito Mussolini tried to save his own

job by getting King Victor Emmanuel to abdicate but the plan

back-fired, Algiers radio reported Monday.

The broadcast, recorded here said that Mussolini submitted a

document to the king by which he would have retired in favor of

Crown Prince Umberto. The king refused, it was said, and Mussolini

himself had to get out

Liberals Want Peace

Now; Report II Duce

Placed Under Arrest

London, July 26.—(AP)—

Marshal Badoglio and a new cabinet ruled turbulent Italy Monday night under

a martial law imposed to prevent civil war between Joyous liberals

who want to make peace immediately with the allies and discredited

fascists left leaderless by the mysterious and sudden exit of Benito

Mussolini and his ministers, Stockholm and Bern dispatches

reported the broken Mussolini had been arrested while trying to flee

to German sanctuary from the nation he brought to the brink of disaster

after 21 years of dictatorship.

Although these reports of Mussolini's whereabouts were not confirmed

in dispatches directly from Italy, there .was no doubt of the attitude

of many Italians. A Milan newspaper reaching the Swiss frontier

said the people staged wild demonstrations upon hearing of

Mussolini's collapse.

Italian Throngs

Cry for Peace

Believe Armistice

To Be Asked Soon

By THOMAS F. HAWKINS

Bern, Switzerland, July 26—(AP)

Italians poured into the streets of| Italy's biggest cities Sunday night and j

all day Monday with cries for peace and shouts of joy and spontaneous

parades celebrating the downfall of Mussolini, who is reported held under

a strong guard at his villa near Rome.

These demonstrations occurred In Rome, Naples, Milan, Bologna.

Turin, Genoa, Como, and other cities. Many of these points had suffered

heavily through allied air attacks.

Stunned German propagandists offered their Berlin-inspired official

attitude that Italy would remain in the war, but allied circles

here were increasingly convinced that it was the beginning of the

end for Italy.

Axis Pilots Do

Heavy Damage

Churches Wrecked by

Enemy Air Bombings

Washington, July 26.—(AP)—

Axis airmen have bombed thousands of churches, monasteries

ecclesiastical buildings and in other Great Britain, France, Poland, Norway,

Greece and other united nations, the office of war information said Monday.

Describing its reports as incomplete, the OWI told of many in

stances of widespread damage to religious edifices by axis bombers

The full story may not be available until the war ends.

Herbert Morrison, British home secretary, has estimated that 13,895

churches, monasteries and other religious buildings in Great Britain

have been damaged or destroyed by axis bombs. The lists include 4,100

churches, 22 of them designed by Christopher Wren.

Available information indicates that France's more famous cathedrals

escaped bomb damage, but churches in several French towns including

Gisors, Les Andelys and Samur, were bombed during the Nazi campaign in France. Destroyed churches included Saint Etienne in Beauvais, described as a famed structure.

Dutch sources report that .five large churches in Rotterdam were destroyed by air attacks and that churches in Vlissingen, Rhenen and Deizig; also were bombed.

Yankees Score

Gain at Munda

Advance 500 Yards

On Big Jap Base

By C. YATES McDANIEL

Allied Headquarters in the Southwest

Pacific, July 27—(/P)—

Driving ahead under the support of a heavy bombardment from sea and air

American troops pushed their front line 500 yards closer to the core of

Japanese defenses at the strategic Munda airfield Monday, it was announced

Tuesday.

It was the first general ground advance reported since the beginning

of the battle for New Georgia island in the central Solomons.

Official reports failed to give any details of what apparently is the

start of the long-heralded drive which should bring American troops

to grips with the enemy in and along the firmly-established and

stubbornly-held perimeter defenses of Munda.