Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 1941. ITALY IN NAZI BONDS.
TODAY the people of Italy are confronted directly by the disasters foretold for them less than six weeks ago by Mr. Churchill in a broadcast in which, he urged them, in effect. to overthrow Mussolini, '‘the one man alone who plunged Halt into war." On that occasion the British Crime Minister declared that ‘‘Our armies are tearing, and will tear, your African empire to shreds and tatters and said iurther:— What is the position of Italy today? Where is it the Ducc has led his trusting people after eighteen years of dictatorial power? What hard choice is open now? It is to stand up to the battering of the whole British Empire, on the sea, in the air, and in Africa, and to the vigorous counter-attack of the Greek nation. Or, on the other hand, to' call in Attila over the Brenner Pass, with his hordes of ravenous soldiery and his gangs of Gestapo policemen, to occupy, hold down, and “protect'’ the Italian people for whom he and his Nazi followers cherish the most bitter and outspoken contempt.
Baly already is suffering much of what Mr. Churchill foretold so recently, but whether any (dement even of the hardest choice is left to Iter is open to question. Iler African empire is being reduced rapidly to shreds anti tatters and her disasters at the hands of the Greeks in Albania are unrelieved.
It has been urged of late by a number of people —among them the well-known 8.8. C. commentator. Mr. Vernon Bartlett —that it may be unwise to yield easy credence to reports ol disorders in enemy countries. That counsel has its application to current stories of rioting in Italian cities against the Fascist regime and Nazi domination —stories that are being denied emphatically in Rome and Berlin, h is not seriously in doubt, however, that if the Italian people were free agents they would seek the measure of relief that is now available by overthrowing Mussolini, cutting adrift from Nazi Germany and admitting their defeat. What may be doubted is whether the Italian people are in a position to make the effort that would enable them to break free from the toils in which they art* encompassed. Attila has been called in over the Brenner Bass and it is likely that so long as she remains unbeaten, Nazi Germany will semi into Italy as many troops as may be needed to keep that country in subjection.
On the oilier hand, there is every reason io believe that the stage has been closely approached, if it has not been reached, at which Italy must be regarded as a liability instead 'of’an element of strength in the Axis partnership. Some questions of critical interest are still open as to the use Hitler may seek to make of the territory and remaining resources of his unfortunate ally. The results to date of the dispatch of dive-bombers to Sicily have not been, fromuhe Xazi standpoint! encouraging. It is still possible, however, that Hitler may be intent on attempting io open up lines of communication with Western Libya by way of the narrow sea passage between Sicily and the French colony of Tunisia. He may also be contemplating action in the Balkans.
It is tolerably certain, in any case, that Italy's war effort will fade and weaken as Xazi domination is intensified and that, in whatever action they may undertake in the theatres mentioned or elsewhere in the Mediterranean regions the Germans will have to draw primarily and chiefly on their own resources. The military weakness of Italy in the unnatural alliance into which she has been dragooned by her egomaniac dictator is accompanied by factors of economic weakness which threaten to work out in overwhelming disaster. As a nation and in her present circumstances. Italy is incapable not only of maintaining supplies of war material and equipment, but even of providing a substantial proportion of her people with the means of subsistence.
I tidy has a population of 44,000,000 and about a third of her people are engaged in land industry, the rest of her workers being employed normally in manufacturing industry, trade, transportation, professional and other services. Normally, too. Italy imports large quantities of food and raw materials, paying for them with exports of manufactures. War has intensified her need of imports, but has largely ent her oil' from the means either of obtaining these imports or of paying for them if they wore available.
In ordinary times, for example, Italy’s textile industries take an important place in her national economy. Of the materials used by these industries, nearly all the raw cotton ami three-quarters of the wool have to be imported. Within her own borders. Italy produces sufficient supplies of silk. The blockade has not only deprived these industries of materials formerly imported but has to a great extent made an cud of
Italian export trade. Many of Italy’s textile factories must thus be at a standstill, with unemployment ami dearth going hand in hand, and much the same fate must have overtaken those engaged in other industries or in services directly or indirectly dependent on manufacturing industry. Already in Italy there ar** -erimis shortages <>f i' u( .,| and also of coal, metals, oil and other vital materials. For the time living. Nazi Germany no doubt is well .able lo prevent Italv seeking a separate ptnier. The facts in sight definitely suggest, however, that in keeping Italy ostensibly on her feet, the Nazis must be prepared to draw heavily on their economic as well as their militarv resources.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1941, Page 4
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937Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 1941. ITALY IN NAZI BONDS. Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1941, Page 4
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