HOUR OF DECISION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1943, Page 3

HOUR OF DECISION

COMING NEAR FOR ITALY GOOD ADVICE IN BRITISH BROADCASTS. DESTROY TYRANTS & GET OUT OF WAR. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 17. British broadcasts to Italy are increasing the Italians’ uncertainties and fears about the Allies’ next move. The general tenor of the British talks is: ‘“The sooner the Italians get out of the war the greater the chance they will have to save their country. The Italians must decide whether they will save their tyrants by destroying Italy, or save Italy by destroying the tyrants.’’ The imminence of the danger confronting Italy is being stressed with the arrival in other parts of evacuees from Sicily and the south of Italy, says the “Daily Telegraph’s”, Zurich correspondent. The Italian authorities are trying their hardest to minimise the effects of the Allied air attacks. DENIAL OF WEAKNESS The Minister of Corporations, Signor Gianetti, in a speech claimed that the Italians were rallying round the Administration. He said that Italian industry after three years of hard war showed no symptoms of disorganisation or weakness. The fuel situation was no more serious than in 1915-18. On the other hand, other reports state that the Italians are becoming increasingly bitter because the military objectives in Italy are thinly protected against air raids while the Germans are hedging factories in the Ruhr with the best and latest searchlights and anti-aircraft guns. Signor Valori, writing in the “Corriere della Sera," warns that Italy's supreme trial of strength is approaching, but he suggests that an attempt by the Allies to land tanks and other heavy material would be an undertaking fraught with tremendous difficulties. The Rome radio announced that King Victor Emanuel has inaugurated an art exhibition in Rome, which was attended by various Ministers and Fascist Party officials. Mussolini did not attend. OPINION IN TURKEY. Turkish diplomats in Istanbul believe that a move to establish a basis for Italian peace talks may be occurring, says the Istanbul correspondent of the “Daily Express.” They point out that Archbishop Spellman, of New York, has arrived in Istanbul almost simultaneously with Monsignor Clarizzio, the Vatican Under-Secretary of State. It is known that they are going to meet. A high official of the Italian Embassy yesterday made contact with Archbishop Spellman through the resident' Papal Legate in Turkey, Monsignor Roncagli. It is not suggested, says the correspondent, that anything sensational will immediately develop, but there is reason to believe that Archbishop Spellman is obtaining an up-to-date understanding on the degree of Italian hopes for a separate peace this summer. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that German officials and members of the Gestapo are withdrawing from Italy. It seems, unless this move is a “blind,” that Hitler is about to abandon Italy to her fate and leave her to face the threat of Allied invasion unaided. The correspondent adds that there arc unmistakable signs that Hitler may withdraw his armed forces from Italy and establish strong fortress defences for the protection of the Reich on the Brenner Pass. It would not be surprising to observers in London if he did so. There has been no official German declaration of continued -Axis solidarity, nor are there indications that the Germans are ready to supply Italy with means for defence. In these circumstances, it seems fairly certain that Hitler is preparing to leave Musolini in the lurch in the same way as Rommel deserted his Italian colleagues in the desert.