MILITARY REVERSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 145, 16 December 1940, Page 9

MILITARY REVERSES

NO IMMEDIATE DEBACLE EXPECTED AT HOME

PLACING THE BLAME

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, December 14

While it is apparent that the Italian people do not regard with equanimity the reversals experienced by Italian arms in the war, for which they had no desire but into which they were coerced in order to further Mussolini's aspirations, it is unlikely that the British and Greek victories, brilliant as they are, will at once bring about a debacle on the Italian home front.

The present situation must come as a profound shock even to devoted followers of the Duce, especially as events have shown how ill prepared the country was for the military adventure which was rushed into by the political chief at a time when he thought great gains could be secured from the success of his fellow-dictator at the expense of an unfortunate neighbour.

Unrest and disillusionment are at present manifesting themselves even within Fascist circles, and an effort is being made to divert criticism irom politicians and concentrate the blame on the army.

Evidence that such unrest is occurring is given by Signor Farinacci, who, in a newspaper article, states that it has become necessary to issue strict orders to all leaders on former Fascist executives that the Fascist Party will apply the sharpest measures against those who do not or will not understand that Italy is at war. While soldiers are sacrificing their lives at the front a definite end will be put to defeatist anti-Fascist propaganda. POLITICIANS NOW BLAME THE SOLDIERS. Commenting on that article, the "Daily Teelgraph" says: "Signor Farinacci has been allowed or ordered to proclaim what looks almost like civil war. Marshal Badoglio and his friends in high places and in the army are the enemy." The newspaper then points out that the Duce himself is commander-in-chief of the army and readily accepted the laurels of victory, but he apparently expected Marshal Badoglio to shoulder the responsibility in meeting adversity. It adds: "Before now, self-imposed Governments have found it necessary to find scapegoats in military comj manders, and before now the scapegoat has turned into a veritable unicorn. | The Rome radio spoke truly when at the end of an endeavour to belittle the [Greek and British successes it stated: 'The Italian people are aware that they are living in the gravest hour of their history.'"

That the wars against Britain and Greece are politicians' wars, for neither of which sufficient military preparation was made, is stressed in the "Economist" in commenting on the resignation of Marshal Badoglio. • Now that the wars have turned into war in earnest the politicians are rounding on the soldiers and blaming them for the miscarriage of their plans for an easy victory.

The "Economist" adds: "It is unlikely that Marshal Badoglio resigned on the Albanian issue alone. It is possible that it is the policy of subservience to the Nazis that he cannot stomach. If the only alternative to defeat in Albania is to call in Germany, Marshal Badoglio may well have preferred defeat —or resignation."