“HAMMER ITALY.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 41, 28 November 1940, Page 2

“HAMMER ITALY.”

WITH ALL MEANS IN POWER.

ADVOCATED BY “THE TIMES.” (United Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, November 25. Discussing the causes and; possible consequences of the defeat inflicted by the Greek forces which culminated in the capture of Koritza., “The Times’’ says: “The Italian soldier, in general, is emotional and easilv becomes a prey to despondency. If all nad gone fvell he would doubtless have overrun: Greece and would have been pleased to picture himself as a. conqueror. “But the shock of unexpected resistance has been too much fqr him and it is now necessary for him to store his enthusiasm and nerve himself to meet it. That is why it will pay us well to hammer Italy and the Italian forces 'with all the means in. our nower before the lessons of the battlefields of Macedonia., Epirus, Taranto and the Thames Estuary arte given a chance to fade. ■'

“While Hitler may not be. sorry that Mussolini has been taught his place and made to realise how hopeless he is without Germany’s assistance, It is improbable that be will allow his partner in the Axis to be too seriously humiliated without intervening. “But interyention by means of groqnd forces can only be carried out either by violation of the territory of Yugoslavia or by inducing Bulgaria to admit his forces and perhaps attack either Greece or Yugoslavia herself. “A campaign against Yugoslavia is never one to be lightly undertaken. There is no certainty that Bulgaria will lend herself to such ignominy as to hack the wrong horse for the third time in succession, hut we have seen elsewhere what an unscrupulous minority backed by Nazi influence from outside is capable of. “The season is unpropitious and Hitler will doubtless prefer to await the ,spring if the Italian need is not too pressing. “Our own difficulties are still very great, hut we have already derived benefit, from the courage of our ally and from our own preparedness to take advantage of the opportunity afforded us. We must not rest on thesie laurels, because there is much to be done. Thene may not- be much time to do it in, equally favourable circumstances.” —British Official Wireless.