The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, NOV. 19, 1943 THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 25, 19 November 1943, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, NOV. 19, 1943 THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN

EVERY now and then in the midst of Allied assurance and confidence in the near approach of victory, we are pulled up with a round, turn to face the reality of some minor success of the armies of the Central Powers. Such incidents, serve, swiftly to dispel the mists of wishful thinking and make us realise the vastness of the undertaking we have in hand. The latest item of this nature has occurred in the Dodeconese, where the Island of iLeros, has been wrested from the Anglo-Italian garrison and has been retaken by the heavily reinforced Nazi troops, who have once again brought the island under German domination, to become available as an air base and as a source of possible offensive against the Allied armies lighting in Italy. Of this campaign the latest reports indicate that operations have once more been held up because of bad weather conditions. It has come as something of a shock to the optimistic elements to realise that the conquest of Italy is not to be a mere repetition of the offensive sweep through Sicily which occupied a bare six weeks, and it speaks volumes for the morale and fighting efficiency of the Nazi divisions to so hold up the toughened veterans of the desert and of the American army in a country reputedly anti-Fascist, that their progress can only be described as crawling pace. The German war machine is far from breaking-down point yet,, and even though the Russians may sweep on victoriously to that vast and sinister no-man's land, that throughout, the middle ages barriered the European from a Muscovites Russia—the Pripet Marshes, Hitler can still substantiate his claim to four hundred fighting divisions. The Italian front is an illustration of the tenacity and stubbornness of the German soldier who alone parallels the übiquitous British Tommy in his capacity to be able to fight hard and valiantly in any quarter of the globe. Just how long the conquest of Italy will take the Anglo-American armies to accomplish depends largely upon the duration of the initial battle for Rome, itself, the home of the 'puppet' Fascist Government set up by Hitler to champion the cause that is lost, and the nerve, centre of world Catholicism. The fall of this city would in all probability preclude the lapid surrender of the whole of the northern provinces with would be the scene of swift rearguard actions by the retiring German garrison and the remnants of militant Fascism. In the meantime Rome with its German defenders presents the major military objective and the key to the Italian campaign.

CHILDREN'S CLOTHING

SHOULD the matter come before Parliament there would probably be little, if any, opposition to a proposal to remove the sales tax from children's clothing. As the result of a remit adopted by the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce the matter will be brought to the notice of the Government, and the advocates of the exemption will be able to refer to the action of the Federal Parliament which last month reduced the rates of sales tax on clothing and household drapery. The explanation given by the Minister of Finance at Canberra was that "clothing and drapery were goods which had substantially increased in price during the war and they figured largely in the cost of living." Apparently the tax on the wide, range of goods covered by the terms "clothing' and "household drapery" was cut by 5 per cent., thus giving legislation sanction to a decision announced by the Federal Government some time ago. The proposed exemption here is to be limited to children's clothing, and it would assist those who have a strong claim for preferential treatment in matters such as these —parents with young families. UNPROTECTED STREAMS WITH the memory of two recent fatalities fresh in mind, we feel the need to stress the growing urgency of protecting the approaches of creeks and streams flowing through this Borough from the attention of infants and young toddlers. Over the past four years Whakatane has had an unprecedented number of fatalities or near accidents from drowning and it would seem to be something of an object lesson to the residents to provide some measure of protection along the banks or approaches. In many instances this responsibility would have to be undertaken by private individuals but there are also a large number of places distinctly dangerous to tiny-tots which are the direct responsibility of the local authority. Everybody knows the attraction of flowing water to young children and a few simple;, decorative, rustic fences would go a long way towards alleviating the danger and possibly saving many young lives.

ABATTOIR PROPOSAL

SIX months ago the Whakatane Borough Council discussed the long overdue question of erecting a municipal abattoir which would serve the needs of the: Borough and ensure that all meat sold for consumption was of regulation standard and free from all taint of infection. The proposal met with almost universal endorsement and was only shelved owing to the ban on building at that time in force. The: matter is now due for further review by the Council and it is to be sincerely hoped that every effort will be made this time to obtain the necessary permit to construct the building and place the meat trade of this town upon a sound and proper basis whereby all beasts slaughtered are certified by Government inspector before being released for public consumption.