ITALY MAY CRACK UP

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13238, 14 January 1941, Page 5

ITALY MAY CRACK UP

AMERICAN VIEW London, Dec. 20, Italians are reported to be working day and night building fortifications against a German invasion should they sign a separate peace. Author of this statement is a distinguished American, a friend of King Victor and Marshal Badoglio, who writes a world copyright article in the "Daily Mail." ' These fresh fortifications, he says, are not only on the Brenner Pass, the northern gateway into Italy from Germany, but on all of Italy's northern frontiers. "From all I have seen," he writes, ..it is obvious that Italy's position is rapidly becoming desperate. The crack must come within two or three months, probably sooner. "I told a German diplomat in Rome that buntly my experience was that 90 per cent, of Italians detested the Germans. "He answered: 'To that I can reply that 100 per cent, .of Germans despise the Italians!'

"There is no animosity against Britain by any section of the population, but the- deepest hatred for Germans among all classes. "Italy is lacking in everything needed to make war. Figures supplied to me by Standard Oil experts in Italy and Rumania, show that she uses 1500 tons of oil daily but imports only 300 tons. Leaders "Discredited"

"Marshal Badoglio, who opposed Italy's entry into the war and also the Greek and Egyptian campaigns, told Mussolini that the situation was irretrievable when he was ordered to put things right. "The eyes of the nation then turned to Crown Prince Umberto/ "Mussolini's position has been hopelessly undermined. I believe (hat a military junta will take control under the King..

"The Fascist leaders are thoroughly disci-edited, and they know it, but the people's allegiance to the King is not affected.

"When I spoke to King Victor recently, he said: 'I wish I were five years younger!' "The Italians are not such bad fighters as the results indicate. The truth is that the army knows the war is unpopular with its leaders and the population. They simply are not fighting.

"Many Italians are of the opinion that the bombing of Rome would hasten Italy's exit from the war. "I am a great lover of Rome, and hope that the lovely city will not be bombed, but I believe that the British should unhesitatingly bomb the military airfield at Campagna and the numerous petrol and oil tanks on its outskirts."