ITALIAN REVERSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1941, Page 6

ITALIAN REVERSES

NEED FOR TAKING SUCCESS COOLLY. We have inflicted, states the “Yorkshire Post,” a severe blow to Mussolini’s prestige. Long ago an author called him the sawdust Caesar. The sawdust is beginning to burst out of that swollen and detestable figure., Speculation, indeed, is racing on t/ consider the possible collapse of all Italy, now struck so hard at TaranlZi and in other peris and cities, at sea. and in Greece. Albania and Egypt. Let us take success as coolly as we take a reverse. It is too early to speak of Italian debacle. It would be astounding if. after such limited experience of a 'war I'or which Duco and Fuehrer so long prepared, Mussolini were already on the point of becoming a political casualty. We must'not lot our hopes leap far ahead of events, yet Italy's position in the war is thoroughly bad. The .time came in the last war when Germany, in the words of one of her leaders, found herself tied to a corpse. In this struggle Italy is cast for the role of Germany’s horrifying companion. But just as Austria, with Germany’s organising power behind her held on in the last conflict till the final collapse, we must expect that Italy in this war wdl be upheld and galvanised as long as possible by Hitler. Wisdom counsels us- not to rejoice prematurely, but to e.nry on with grim concentration. living simply, showing all the courage and resourcefulness wc can. and piling up production for the needs of our fighting men.