‘Zero hour has struck’
Berne, Switzerland – (July 10)
The zero hour for Italy has struck and the country’s destiny is in our hands. For better or for worse we are engaged to the last drop of our blood, but we are ready on all fronts! Let the guns do the talking.
These words by an official spokesman on the Rome radio late tonight best sum up by the tenor of official declarations to the Italian people throughout the day on the subject of the Allied invasion of Sicily. The declarations were numerous – but they contained not one word as to the progress of fighting beyond the bare announcement in this morning’s communiqué that the invasion had begun.
Press comment available here tonight – telephone communications with the peninsula were cut for a short time this morning but resumed early this afternoon – ranges from the nervously querulous “What next?” attitude adopted by the Popolo di Roma, which asked editorially whether the “enemy might not extend his operations not only against Sicily but against Sardinia, Calabria and even Puglia” to the “reassured” attitude of the Messaggero’s military collaborator, who found hope in the “increasing successes of our torpedo planes, which have nor intensifies their attacks against the enemy supply lines.” He contended that, now that these “vulnerable” lines had been extended toward the peninsula, the Italian Air Force blows could begin to be heavier.
Reports from neutral sources in Rome late this evening intimated that the atmosphere prevailing in the capital, “though heavy, was confident.” Some speculation was also noted as to the whereabouts of the Italian Navy, which was reported early this morning to have put to sea from a southern port to engage the enemy forces.
King Victor Emmanuel and Premier Mussolini were both in evidence in the capital on several occasions throughout the day. A report to the Swiss press late tonight stated that, shortly before 6 p.m., “most of the Ministers” of the Cabinet were seen to enter the Palazzo Venezia.