Aftermath

The people of Catania cheered hysterically as the British moved in (see p. 30). Then, a bit later, something snapped.

Bomb-tortured, hungry, ragged men, women and children swept through the city's debris in an orgy of looting. They slapped and clawed each other for owner ship of valuable and valueless things. One man clutched enough boxes of toothpicks to pick his teeth for life. Another stacked a dozen straw hats on his head. A woman juggled seven umbrellas. Two others squabbled over a jar of tomatoes, then dropped the jar as a small boy sprayed them, with a hairdresser's lotion. From the balcony of one store the looters tossed goods to carts lined up below. One driver tried to make off with a packet of under wear, used his fists in vain to hold it against a mob of rivals When he had lost the last garment, he burst into tears of rage, drove his horse & cart full tilt into the crowd.

After three hours of this, local police and British soldiers managed to restore order.

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