TENSION IN ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1940, Page 5

TENSION IN ITALY

MORE HIGH OFFICERS RESIGN INCLUDING CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF. RESPONSIBILITY FASTENED ON MUSSOLINI. Further resignations of Italian high officers are reported, the latest, being those of four admirals, including the Chief of the Naval Staff, a 8.8. C. broadcast reports. New appointments have been made also to posts of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and commander of the Italian naval forces at sea. These wholesale resignations are held to he further confirmation of the view that Mussolini must bear responsibility for the failure of the campaign against Greece. The loss of leading Italian soldiers and sailors at this critical period is the subject of considerable comment in the world’s Press, and is regarded as a sign of serious discontent with Mussolini’s plans in the Balkans. Two Italians generals, members of the Armistice Commission in France, were killed when a military plane crashed during a flight to Turin yesterday.

SERIOUS DISORDERS REPORTED IN ITALIAN CITIES. PROTESTS AGAINST WAR WITH GREECE. LONDON, December 7. The Athens corespondent of the International News Agency (New York) reports that serious internal disturbances, bordering on revolt, have broken out at Milan, Florence and Trieste. A number of persons are reported to have been killed and injured at Trieste, where there were clashes on a large scale between Blackshirts and crowds protesting at the war against Greece. At Milan and Florence the disturbances followed Marshal Badoglio’s resignation, which has deeply shocked the Italians, many of whom feel that Signor Mussolini’s policies are leading Italy to major disasters. A message from Rome states that General Ugo Cavallero, who replaces Marshal Badoglio as Chief of the Italian General Staff, is expected to confer with the Chief of the German Armed Forces, General von Keitel, soon, and also to make an inspection trip to Albania. It is officially stated in Rome that Count de Vecchi has resigned at his own request the governorship of the Dodecanese Islands, and that he is succeeded by General Ettore Bastico. THREAT OF NAZI CONTROL.

The reports published in Zurich, of the Badoglio sensation include a statement that 40 members of his staff resigned with him. Well-informed circles in Rome are quoted as saying that further important changes in the General Staff are expected. Reuter’s correspondent on the Italian forces are placed under German control. It is believed Marshal Badoglio wished to maintain the independent command.

Count de Vecchi was one of Signor Mussolini’s principal lieutenants in the Fascist revolution, and has been described as one of the most pugnacious figures thrown up by Fascism. He was serious injured in an encounter with Communists in 1921, when he fought in the streets during the early days of Fascism.

His successor in the Dodecanese command, General Bastico, participated in the 1914-18 war. He commanded a Blackshirt division in Abyssinia and had a high position with the Italian “volunteers” in Spain.

WHY BADOGLIO RESIGNED. The London “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent on the Greek southern front asked an Italian officer prisoner of war his opinion about the resignation of Marshal Badoglio. The officer replied: “It was only to be expected. Our defeat is due to the megalomania of Mussolini, who, taking a stand on the principles of Fascism, exerted pressure on Badoglio to agree to the campaign in Greece. “The military authorities opposed the idea because it was fraught with difficulties, even if it would not be disastrous, but the Duce wanted a success of some sort to impress Italy,” he continued. “Our defeat in Albania means a protest by the Italian people and army against Fascism. The destroyer of our country hopes to save his own face by throwing the blame on the grand patriot Badoglio.” In the London Press the capture of Santi-Quaranta and the advance of the Greek army to the north of the town are contrasted as showing the united effort and high morale of the Greek nation against the undoubted bewilderment of the Italian people at the resignation of Marshal Badoglio, which is taken here as a tacit admission that the Greek claims are more likely to err on the side of understatement than of exaggeration.

It is enerally held that the loss to Italy of one of her most able commanders, who was largely responsible for the success in Abyssinia, must have a depressing effect on the people, who have not been too anxious for a war of any kind, and will bring to them a realisation that the Fascist political policy has plunged Italy into the Greek conflict without proper strategic preparation. PERTINENT ADVICE. A shrewd observer rere gives the following warning to Marshal Badoglio himself: “Remembering the untimely end of Marshal Balbo, whose views on international policy had some resemblance to his own, he would certainly do well to avoid going up in aeroplnes.” DILEMMA FOR DUCE CONFESSION OF ABJECT FAILURE. IF HE ACCEPTS GERMAN HELP. (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, December 8. ‘‘The Times” says: “There is no reason to doubt that Marshal Badoglio considered he could no longer hold his position. A Rome report states that Signor Mussolini had many stormy meetings with the High Command. “Signor Farinaccf sharply criticised the whole General Staff and blamed them for the defeats, while the generals 1 blamed politicians for an ill-

conceived and ill-timed ultimatum. The loss of Marshal Badoglio is bound to bewilder if not depress the Italian people, who held him in high respect. Signor Mussolini’s prestige is now more than ever bound up in the Greek war and it would be a confession of abject failure to accept German help at this stage.”

NAVAL RETIREMENTS INCLUDING CHIEF OF STAFF & FLEET COMMANDERS DEATH OF TWO GENERALS. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) ROME, December 8. Admiral Domenico Cavagnari, Chief of the Italian Naval Staff, has resigned. Admiral Arturo Riccardi has been appointed Un-der-Secretary to the Navy and also Chief of Staff. Admiral Inigo Campioni has been appointed ViceChief of the Naval Staff. Admiral Angelo Jachino has been appointed Commander of the Fleet at Sea. Signor Mussolini has written a letter to Admiral Cavagnari, thanking him for his seven years’ service. . General Pietro Pinto and a general of the Air Force, Albo Pellegrini, were killed when a military plane, carrying the Italian Armistice Commission, of which they were members, crashed en route to Turin from Rome.