DUCE ON TARANTO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 November 1940, Page 6

DUCE ON TARANTO

ADMITS THREE WARSHIPS WERE HIT DENIES THAT ANY WERE SUNK ITALY’S PART IN THE WAR. SOME RATHER LABOURED EXPLANATIONS. Signor Mussolini, in a speech at Rome, referred chiefly to the British attack on the Italian naval base of Taranto, a 8.8. C. broadcast states. While denying that any warships had been sunk, he admitted that three were hit. One, ho said, was so seriously damaged that repairs would take a long time, but the others were being quickly restored to their former efficiency. He denied that two other warships were hit or damaged. He asserted that papers found by the German General Staff in France proved that Greece had offered Britain bases in 'Greek territory. Referring to the campaign against Britain, he said he had asked the Fuehrer to allow Italy to take an 'active part in the war against Britain by the use of Italian planes and submarines.

The chief impression made in London is that the speech was designed to counter the feeling held in many places and even in Italy itself, that something had gone wrong with Italy's plan. Hitler has received the Spanish and Italian Foreign Ministers at Berchtesgaden. The two Foreign Ministers were entertained at tea. Herr von Ribbentrop, the German Foreign Minister, and General von Keitel, Chief of the German Army Staff, were also present. No communique has been issued.

OLD LIES REPEATED BRITAIN “RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WAR.” THE ENCIRCLEMENT FABLE. (Received This Day, 9.0 a.m.) ROME, November 18. Speaking from the balcony of the Venice Palace, Mussolini told a gathering of 20,000 that: “It must not be forgotten that Britain is exclusively responsible for the war, which could have been avoided if Britain, aided by France, had not attempted to encircle Germany. The initiative came from London, followed a few hours later from Paris. Peace will be an Axis peace and England will not avoid her catastrophe.” Mussolini declared that with the new mass production of aircraft, Italy would soon reach parity, if not superiority over other belligerents. Defending the accuracy of the Italian communiques, he said he personally supervises the drafting of all war bulletins, adding: “A strong people like the Italians do not flinch from the truth." He denied the British statement that three battleships and two auxiliary cruisers were sunk at Taranto. Only one ship was damaged and she would soon be repaired. “Mr Churchill’s method,” he said, “is to multiply everything by six.”

Mussolini continued: “I asked and obtained permission from the Fuehrer to take an active part in the battle against Britain with aeroplanes and submarines. Germany does not need these reinforcements. “According to papers seized in France, Greece offered Britain the use of naval bases in last May. We have all the material necessary to overcome Greek resistance. The 372 Italian dead, 1.081 wounded and 650 missing on the Epirus front will be avenged. A bloc of 150 millions of resolute and implacable men will bring victory.”

ANOTHER VERSION THE DAMAGE AT TARANTO. (Received This Day. 9.15 a.m.) ROME, November 18. According to one version of his speech Signor Mussolini said: “I declare it false that three of our ships were sunk at Taranto. Three ships were damaged but none were sunk.” He also declared: “Greece is a tricky enemy. The Greeks hate Italy more than any other nation. Their hate is profound and incurable.”

EXCUSES & PROMISES REFERENCES TO WAR IN GREECE. LONDON, November 18. Signor Mussolini’s speech in Rome today on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of sanctions was one of the most uninspiring he has delivered. The references to the war in Greece were a mixture of excuses and promises. The failure of the Italians was attributed to the fact that the Greek mountains were not suitable for a blitzkreig. He denied the heavy losses of material on the Findus front and said that Italy had all the material she needed to overcome Greek risistance. The losses in Greece would be revenged whether the war lasted 10 months or two months. The rest of the speech dealt with the solidarity of the Axis Powers in their struggle against Britain whom Mussolini described as the war monger.