CHASTISEMENT OF A DICTATOR

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 45, 16 November 1940, Page 12

CHASTISEMENT OF A DICTATOR

Mussolini’s Black Week AN ORDINARY MAN’S VIEW OF THE WAR (By Übseuveb.) We would hardly be human if we did not take a sardonic pleasure from the discomfiture British and Greek arms have inflicted this week upon Mussolini, sawdust Caesar and Dictator of Italy. He is au individual most of us view with particular contempt and loathing. It is not so ouch that he entered the war on the side of our original enemy or chose downright evil as a colleague in arms. We expected something of lite sort aud prepared accordingly. What evoked our boiling detestation was the time and method this man seized upon to inflict his blow. We remember June 10 of this year. France was down and all but out. Opportunist and coward. this Mussolini grasped the chance to jump in to hit and rob a prostrate victim. The despicable manner of his going to war passed beyond mere material considerations of more soldiers, ships and aeroplanes ranged against us. It became a spiritual matter, outraging British ideals of fair fight and common decency. Therefore we watcit the chastisement of this symbol of craven Fascist rottenness with no little relish.

We have had to wait live months for this first smashing blow where it hurts Mussolini most—in the pride »f the navy lie had laboriously built up to rule a sea he sought as his own. For the opportunity we are iu the debt of Mussolini himself. He blundered fatally when he imagined the Greeks would quail at the flourish of a lictor’s rod. In boxing parlance he has dropped his guard and left himself uncovered. The Fleet Air Arm and the R.A.F. are at him with blows like the thrust of smooth-working pistons. The Royal Navy lias this petty Caesar beaten on the sea he must control if his African Empire is not to vanish like the stars at the rise of the Ethiopian sun. This may spell the beginning of the end of the Fascist regime. Unless Hitler comes speedily and massively to the aid of his wretched ally, especially by air, the immediate outlook is black for Mussolini.

The Fascist adventure against Greece Jias some similarity to the Nazi assault on Norway. Hitler pulled off his stroke: Mussolini mulled his. Hitler calculated shrewdly and organized thoroughly. He seized and held local air mastery —supreme advantage. Mussolini miscalculated, and botched his imitative design. He has not secured the air. Both, however, have wounds to lick in common. They have lost substantial portions of their navies. Let them reflect on what that portends.

It will be no surprise if l lie unhappy Italian people begin soon to ask Mussolini and Ciano for an explanation of where they are leading the nation. _ Tragedy of Italy.— lt is both a crime and a tragedy that the Italian people who have contributed so richly down the centuries to the arts of peac“ and good government should have been dragged into an alliance so iottl as that which has chained them to Fascism and Nazism. Marion Lochhead, in the “Scottish Guardian.” recently wrote of Italy:

You bore 8. Francis: owned with pride Great Dante, and his Mantuan ijuide; Loved the Venetian and the Florentine: JLnd note i/ou herd and feed with swine.

What Shall We Do?— A columnist, Peter Howard, related in a recent issue of the "Sunday Express" his impression of a first meeting with H. G. Wells. Mr. Wells had been saying a good deal publicly iu criticism of prayer and of some of England’s leading figures who have made reference to Hie need for Divine guidance in these days of trial. Howard asked Mr. Wells what he thought of the war. He replied: Oh, there's a bad outbreak of piety. 1 always distrust piety, because it is usually followed by excuses lor defeat. ’1 hey are full of piety in France now they are beaten. And I notice here that a national day of prayer is usually followed by a disaster of first magnitude. "Now, .Mr. Wells has for a long l hue been one of my godlings,. Ilonaid wrote. "He has dazzled me with the brilliance of liis mind. So I listened attentively to any suggestions which might fall from his lips as to how the war should be won.

"Instead, lie kept on asking everybody in a high-pitehed voice: ’What are we to DO?' and again, 'Will somebody please tell me what we are. to DO?’ 1 came away from my meeting with Mr. Wells sorrowful because. in spite of all his brilliance. my godling had no advice to otter me at this moment. but appeared himself to be bewildered and confused by events.

If Mr. Wells really wants to be told what we are to DO, he could not serve his peace of mind better than by inquiring from any of Hie men of prayer lie has affected to despise. And their advice would lie. "Keep your head, and get on with the war.’ The glory of prayer is that it. brings a quietude and sense of peace that passes the under ■standing of those who may not practise it. The Fighting Spirit.— An elderly woman, writing from England to a relative in Wellington, adds still further to the accumulating evidence of Hie spirit with which the people of Britain are facing up to Hie worst that Hitler can do. After referring in the highest terms to New Zealand pilots stationed near her residence, the writer goes on : —

"For our wonderful preservation in all this peril we are devoutly thankful to Almighty God. The people are wonderful. and have come to accept these wartime conditions witli all their attendant dangers quite calmly. We are all doing our extra bit in some way or other. Tlie spirit of our nation rises every day. We are prepared for sacrifices, lint defeat NEVER.” Courageous Democrat. — The more President Roosevelt's re-election is studied the more impressive his victory becomes. 'The man has courage. To break' with tradition over the third term took courage: to introduce conscription involving 1G.000.000 voters before the election and in a country not at war took very great courage. This was the hallmark of true statesmanship.

The Elderly Brave. — A burning desire to serve their country leads many men past military age to all sorts of devices to get into the King's uniform. Here is an incident which occurred in Wellington. It would have been comic if it were not truly heroic. A citizen in an impressive way of business and more than GO years of age, presented himself at defence headquarters. He gave his name and address, and w.heu it came to age, claimed to be 43. Tlie clerk questioned the would-be recruit, once more as to his identity and, then being quite sure, said, "No go. Mr.——. Your son enlisted tlie other day and lie was 37. Sorry."

"So am I." replied Mr. , as lie reluctantly turned away.