ITALY’S FEARS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1943, Page 4

ITALY’S FEARS

MUSSOLINI IN CONVULSIONS COUNTRY POTENTIAL THEATRE OF WAR. DISSATISFACTION SPREADING. Mussolini was never much good as a prophet, writes J. Viktorov, in “Soviet War News.” When the U.S.A, entered the war, he said contemptuously: “The intervention of America will not bring victory to Britain and her allies. It will, however, lead to profound upheavals within the U.S.A.” Today the Duce is silent, but his radio observer, Marcus Appelius, shouts at the top of his voice: “Help, fire!” He says in his latest statement: “The invasion by American troops of French possessions in North Africa and the organisation of resistance by the Axis in southern Europe brings us face to face with the danger of fire in our own home, in Italy.” A brief but most 1 expressive summary of the situation. What Appelius means is that war has approached the very borders of Italy, and that her military weakness and the unstable rear of the Fascist regime have now become a matter of utmost urgency. Italy has few troops at home. Many have been sent by the Duce to die for the Fuehrer on the Soviet front. The 4th Italian Army has been dispatched to France. And as for the Italian forces co-operating with Rommel’s army in Africa, Mussolini can write them off. Most of them have been killed or taken prisoner, while the fleeing remnants have little stomach for more fighting. Nor is Mussolini in a position to withdraw what troops he has on garrison duty in Tripolitania. “The organisation of resistance in southern Europe” may sound a little curious. But it simply means that Mussolini is now forced to undertake certain military preparations in Italy proper, and consequently to submit to even stronger Nazi domination. Appelius goes on to tell the Italians what they should do to aid the Fascist government: “Each of us must remain at his post and carry on calmly. There must be less talk, less grumbling about difficulties. It is not, necessary to show a tragic face. That won’t help. The hour of serious trial has come for Italy.” He is right about that. What remains of Mussolini’s pompous boasts about the Mediterranean being an Italian lake? Our Allies’ main blows are now directed at capturing the most important strongholds in the central Mediterranean. They already hold the main bases at the eastern and western ends —Gibraltar, Oran, Algiers and Port Bone. If Benghazi, Bizerta and Tripoli are captured Italy will be in a very nasty situation. The battle for Tunisia is joined. From Bizerta to Cagliari, in Sardinia, it is only about 140 miles, and about 350 miles to Naples. Thus Italy lies completely exposed to blows from our Allies’ air forces, and it may find itself exposed also to the blows of their navy and other arms. Italy is at last directly in the war zone. The British and Americans have already brought that about—and their operations are a long way from complete. Appelius’s alarmed, almost hysterical radio appeal proves that Italy is far from ready to meet the situation. The country is ruined. The people are starving and war-weary. Dissatisfaction spreads ever wider. It is common knowledge that there is serious opposition among the army officers as well as among the petty and middle bourgeoisie. Mass arrests in military, industrial and even Fascist Party circles are eloquent of the country’s internal situation. Italians do not hope for much from Hitler. The only “help” he is likely to give will be to occupy the country completely and subject it finally to the Reich. The Italian people ever more frequently question the results of Mussolini’s policy, based on alliance with Germany. Italy has lost her possessions in Africa and her influence in the Balkans. She is wholly dependent on Germany for raw materials, for which she has to pay out of her internal resources. The African campaign has shown how much Rommel cared about the fate of the Italian troops. Recent happenings have thoroughly debunked this German general in Italian eyes. The Bth Army’s advance and the brilliant performance of the American troops have shown up as an empty boast Hitler’s assertion that the German Army is able to cope with any situation. This dwindling of faith in Hitler Germany will inevitably nourish the growth of contradictions between - the two Axis countries. Italy is about to become a theatre of war. Yet events in the Mediterranean are only just beginning. The main battles are still ahead. The Axis still has strong powers of resistance. But one thing is indisputable: our Allies have struck it a weighty blow.