ITALY AS CORPSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1943, Page 3

ITALY AS CORPSE

MAY SOON BE ABANDONED •BY GERMANY HITLER AND MUSSOLINI. SIGNIFICANT SILENCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) , LONDON, July 20. “Where is Hitler?’’ Where is Mussolini?” were questions being asked here prior to the announcement of their meeting. The German offensive in Russia has failed, but Hitler has not spoken since his March broadcast. Sicily has been successfully invaded and Rome bombarded from the air, but Mussolini is silent. “Imagine President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill remaining silent at such a juncture,” comments the “Observer.” Equally interesting is the speculation whether Germany intends to defend Italy. Reports continually strengthen an impression that the Italian troops in Sicily no longer have much heart for the war. The “Daily Telegraph’s” military correspondent says: “It would be no surprise to find the Italian Army generally disintegrating.. As in Tunisia, so in Sicily, there may soon come a psychological moment when the Germans, no less than the Italians, decide to call it a day.” The correspondent adds that a collapse of Italian morale would be of far-reaching effect and would entirely unbalance the Axis military budget. He points out that Germany has about 260 field divisions, of which 190 are in Russia, over a dozen in the Balkans, 40 in France and the Low Countries and ten in Norway, leaving eight to balance remaining liabilities —divisions in Italy and her central reserve. Germany has a few field divisions in Italy, for which reason it is concluded she has practically no central reserve. The correspondent suggests that if 30 Italian divisions were eliminated in the Balkans and Dodecanese Islands, together with 26 in Italy and the Riviera, Germany’s military budget will be unbalanced-by 50 divisions. “The Times,” in a leading article, re-

fers to Berlin newspapers explaining that Sicily is of no importance—a mere insular outpost of the Continent, and adds: “There is no indication from Berlin of any intention to render much more help on the Italian mainland than is being given in Sicily. The whole trend of German strategy suggests that the plan is now to concentrate on the defence of ’Fortress Europe.’ ” “The Times” Istanbul correspondent reports that in the view of a prominent German connected with the GerIman Embassy, Italy ceased long ago to be of any use to Germany. In fact she is becoming an increasingly heavy burden, which is now taking proportions of definite and deadly peril. “Had Germany considered only practical advantages,” he added, “she would some time ago have dropped her ‘groggy’ ally, but political considerations compel hei to stand by Italv. We shall do all we can to save Sicily, but if the Allies succeed in conquering the island entirely that will mean the end of Italy and it is extremely doubtful whether Germany will consent any longer to drain her own resources in a vain attempt to revivify the corpse.”