IN NEED OF WEAPONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 18, 21 July 1943, Page 5

IN NEED OF WEAPONS

THE ITALIAN ARMY LONDON, July 20. It is known in London that Germany has been unable to supply Italy with armaments to enable her to put tip a fight against the modern equipment of the Allies, says the diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph. The Italian, army is without an armoured division, and is not receiving assistance from. Germany in forming one. The military authorities are attempting to organise such a division from the remnants of three armoured divisions which were destroyed m North Africa. . At present the Italian army in iact needs every type of weapon. Repeated appeals to Germany have failed to produce them. There is no likelihood whatever that the situation will improve now that Germany is involved in major operations in Russia which are causing her to call on her own reserves in ever-increasing quantities. It is assumed in certain quarters that Germany is now reckoning on the loss of Italy and can afford her little more than token assistance against the Allies. , _. The complete silence of Signor Mussolini following the invasion of

Sicily remains one of the greatest mysteries of the Italian situation, says the Madrid correspondent of the "Daily Mail." As far as is known, he has not even met the members of the Italian General Staff since the beginning of the month. The King, on the other hand, has taken a significant step in sending for Marshal Badoglio from the country home where he nas lived in seclusion for many months, to ask his view of the military situation.