LOW MORALE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1940, Page 11

LOW MORALE

THE ITALIAN PEOPLE

EFFECT OF DEFEATS

PARTY V. ARMY

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received December 14, noon.)

RUGBY, December 13,

The heavy defeats suffered by the Italian arms in recent weeks in Albania, in the air, and at sea, which has now been followed by a British victory of the first order in the African theatre of war, has aroused much speculation in neutral countries as to Italy's continued participation in the war and the effect of the defeats on her relations with Germany. These speculations are fostered by reports reaching neutral countries of internal dissensions in Italy, where, according to information available in the United States, the war is increasingly unpopular and the morale low. The latest advices from Milan refer to a split between Marshal Badoglio and his followers on the one hand and the Fascist Party on the other, which it is stated has developed into open conflict. Colour is given to these reports by an article by Signor Farinacci in the Fascist newspaper "Regime Fascista" accusing Marshal Badoglio of endeavouring to split the Italian nation arjd place the responsibility for the situation in which Italy finds herself, especially in Albania, on the Fascist Party. Signor Farinacci alleges that Marshal Badoglio is spreading a report in influential circles that the army staff is not responsible for the war against Greece, to which it had always objected, and that when the staff was forced to attack it first asked for a greater number of troops than those at its disposal. Signor Farinacci maintains that such representations are not only untrue, as Marshal Badoglio took command unconditionally, but also childish, as it is common knowledge that the responsibility in warfare lies with military and technical experts. The article concludes with a remarkable appeal to the Italian nation to rally round Mussolini and the frontline fighters. It is clear that Signor Farinacci's article, in which references are made to the offensive spirit of the Libyan army and to Italian successes in northern Africa, was written before the defeat at Sidi Barrani, which cannot fail further to accentuate the internal dissensions. Meanwhile, significant references are made in the German Press to the threatened position of the Albanian oilfields. It is very noticeable that the German newspapers do not hesitate to' hint that it is of the utmost importance to Italy to protect this, relatively small source of oil supply, as there are definite limits to the Rumanian resources.