‘AMGOT’ set up to rule Sicily
British, U.S. administrators govern populace
Allied HQ, North Africa (UP) –
An Allied military government, known as “AMGOT,” has already been established in occupied sections of Sicily, it was announced today.
AMGOT stands for Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories.
Gen. Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander, commander of ground forces, has been appointed military governor of occupied Sicily by Supreme Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Will keep order
The immediate heads of “AMGOT” were announced as Maj. Gen. Lord Rennell of the British Army and Brig. Gen. Frank J. McSherry of the U.S. Army.
Officers attached to “AMGOT” will be charged with seeing that the Sicilian population obeys orders and proclamations of Gen. Alexander.
“AMGOT” is strictly a military government with no political implications of any kind. It consists of hundreds of American and British officers who have been training for months to govern enemy territory as they are taken over.
British and American flags will fly side-by-side over every AMGOT headquarters.
Rennell expert on Italy
Gen. Rennell has been named chief Civil Affairs officer, it was stated, and Gen. McSherry is deputy chief.
Gen. Rennell is one of Britain’s leading experts on Italian affairs. He has recently served in military administrations in the Middle East and Madagascar.
Key positions in the government alternate between British and American officers.
AMGOT has announced it will be benevolent in its jurisdiction so far as the Sicilian population is concerned, but that Fascist ringleaders will be removed from office.
Aims of government
Other tenets of the Allied military government are:
- The Fascist militia and so-called Fascist youth organizations will be abolished.
- There will be no negotiations with exiles or refugees.
- No local politicians will be given preferential treatment.
- The administration of affairs will be carried out as far as possible through Italian officials in Sicily who have not been active members of the Fascist Party.
Gen. Alexander issued a proclamation assuring the Italian people that so long as they comply with the government’s orders, they may go about their normal business without fear.