THE POSSIBILITIES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 209, 12 June 1940, Page 5

THE POSSIBILITIES

ITALY’S ARMED DISPOSITIONS. ALL UNDER GERMAN CONTROL, IS NO ASSET. TO THE REICH, i (United Press Association.-—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.)' , : LONDON, June; 11. I It is authoritatively stated .that! Italy has come into the war for one of two main reasons: Firstly, either of her own accord, because Mussolini thinks the Germans are winning, and he wants to share in the loot; and, secondly, that Hitler, finding himself stretched more than lie expected, ordered Italy to enter the war. •

Italy has an army of 1,500,000, and a big air force and navy, These forces will be under German orders, similar to the Austrians and Czechs. They will be used more effectively than in the last war when they were under their own leadership. The Italian Army may be in various ways. It might attack the French Riviera or invade Malta, Corsica, Cyprus and Egypt. It is doubtful whether the Germans would allow an attack on Malta, which is a tough nut to crack and would be costly in manpower and money. Tunisia also might be attacked, but a strong French garrison awaits across the border. The Italians would have to cross 300 miles of waterless desert to. reach Alexandria, and fighting with armoured units in Africa is not practicable at this time of year. Italy, economically, is not an asset tc Germany. Her overseas empire can be easily starved. She has 200,000 white troops in Libya, where there already is a water shortage, a Iso -50,000 to 80,000 in Abyssinia.

1 THE ITALIAN NAVAL FORCES.

NEARLY ALL IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. . (Received This Day, 9.5. .a.m,).. i LONDON, June. 11, ; Well-informed circles believe that practically the whole of the Italian Navy is concentrated in the Mcditeiv ranean. j - .... . •. . .. «••>» |f/ "i* l v*l *