The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18th, 1940. ITALY'S END APPROACHES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 251, 18 December 1940, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18th, 1940. ITALY'S END APPROACHES

THE resignation of Marshal Badoglio as Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Army may be said to be the beginning of the end of Mussolini and his Fascist regime. The: resignation must result in serious repercussions, indeed, according to reports, there is considerable unrest in important Italian towns. Badjoglio has characterised the Greek campaign as unjustified and useless; it was unjustified, but not useless. It will prove very useful to the people of Italy if it puts an Mussolini,, and as far as we can see it can have no

other effect. Marshal Badoglio has resigned when his services were most needed, and that he has thought it necessary to take drastic action gives emphasis to his opinions. The Italians must be driven out of Albania. The Greeks, elated with isuccess, are pushing the Italians back to the coast, while the Italian troops, depressed by a succession of setbacks and defeats, have no fortitude for the campaign. It is said that Hitler is to help Mussolini,, but we fail to see how this can be done. German troops cannot be transported by sea,, and to send them to Greece they must traverse Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. This may have been possible at the outset of the Greek campaign, but now it is practically impossible. The Greek victories have stiffened the attitude of Bulgaria and particularly Yugoslavia,, while Turkey will use force if German troops make use of Bulgaria. Yugoslavia will not submit to German troops passing through that territory, and so Germany would have to fight her way into .Greece, if she really desires to help Italy. But we do not think, Germany will risk sending troops south, in any case she may not consider it wise to go to the help of Italy. The new Commander-in-Chief is going to Berlin to consult

with the German Chief-of-Staff, for what purpose is not known, but. nothing is likely to come of it. If Germany cannot give material assistance, Ita,ly must be hounded out of Albania. The morale of the Italian troops is now very low, and therefore the Greeks will have, a comparatively easy job in. inflicting further losses on the Italians. The continued retreat of the Italians in Albania must have a depressing effect on the Italian troops in the Western Desert, as is obvious from the latest news that they are retreating before the British. Also 20,000 haye preferred captivity. The Italians in Abyssinia are isolated. They cannot get supplies from Italy, and such supplies as they possess are dwindling. As a matter of fact Mussolini planned for a short campaign and provided supplies accordingly. Now, as far as Italy is concerned, it may la,st another six months, at all events the British ian carry on for that period and much longer, hence home, supplies in Italy are running low, and how they are to be replenished is a mystery. The Italian people have been under strict rationing for some time, and if they are. forced to further tighten their belts, there may be serious trouble. Italy it seems obvious must pull out. of the war, and that very soon. When she does so, Hitler will need to make fresh plans, this time not for the invasion of Britain but for the defence of Germany. He has a limited time in whidh to complete his plans,, for the British will take the offensive in the spring, probably about April, and when the British attack they will not stop.