NAZIS IN CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1941, Page 5

NAZIS IN CONTROL

SUBJUGATION OF ITALY COUNTRY NOW OCCUPIED TERRITORY. ACHIEVED BY POLITICAL MEANS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, March 8. Germany's subjugation of Italy is complete, but it is not flambuoyant because it has been achieved through the Fascist Party. The Germans control every high State position, though retaining established officials as “Quislings.” Italy actually becomes occupied territory, but the occupation has been achieved by political means. In the economic field the Italian war effort has virtually ceased. Scarcely any aeroplanes are being built because of lack of raw materials. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent in Lisbon reports on reliable authority that 300,000 Germans, who are personnel of the Luftwaffe and army, are in Italy. Nearly two-thirds of them, including all the land forces, are based on Naples. Sicily is virtually a German island, and Germans are also manning a chain of air bases from Lombardy to Calabria. They brought their own aeroplane fuel because of the poor quality of the Italian oil. The Lisbon correspondent of “The Times” reports that it is unlikely that German troops in Africa can be greatly reinforced. The troops already landed were part of a wider strategy which might have developed if the Italians had not collapsed. They are at present engaged in the negative role of keeping General Wavell from General Weygand.