Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1940 ITALIAN DISSENSIONS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1940, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1940 ITALIAN DISSENSIONS.

RESIGNATIONS or dismissals of leaders, —whatever the term used in official' announcements, — have been frequent in the history of war, particularly when little success has. been obtained, the British Army having its share of such developments. Few of these changes, however, have been more dramatic and unexpected than the withdrawal of Marshal Badoglio from the command of the Italian army in the war against Greece. His reputation is worldwide, and his appointment, following the first Italian reverses, was estimated to be evidence of Italian realisation that the situation demanded stronger men. and stronger measures. The new leader did not change the fortunes of the war. Indeed, matters went from bad to worse, and Badoglio’s resignation so early, may be regarded as his opinion that the war should never have been started,

and that Italy can gain little from

Had Badoglio’s resignation been alone, it would have been serious enough, but it has been followed by thpse of other Italian leaders, on sea as well as land. It would, be ridiculous to suggest that funk

was the cause of the resignations, as the personal bravery of the officers mentioned, as well as their patriotism, need not be questioned. Obviously, there is a serious difference of opinion between Mussolini and the Army and Navy leaders, not only about the invasion of Greece, but the whole Fascist policy, as it has developed since the march on Rome. Long before Italy allied herself with Germany, it was known that the Royal House, the old nobility and many Army leaders were not in favour of the anti-Biutish policy, but the enthusiasm which Mussolini aroused among the masses and the success of the Abyssinian expedition, caused opposition to the Duce to be passive. He was outwardly accepted at his own valuation, and whilst he was successful, he got away with it. To-day, there is a serious slump in Mussolini’s stock. His promise to keep Italy out of the war was broken, but the Italian people did not mind that whilst they suffered little, and no serious danger approached. The fall of France raised national hopes of easy territorial aggrandisement, and the capture of British Somaliland was wrongly interpreted. The lack of success, since, in Africa, and the increasing harassing effects of the war in Italy owing to the blockade and the heavy expenditure, created discontent, which may be transformed into revolt by the defeats from the Greeks. Italy’s task will be very difficult during the coming Winter, and unless there is national unity, no chance exists of retrieving the situation. Britain may be depended upon to encourage anti-Musso-lini feeling in Italy, and meanwhile, will make good use of the new bases in the Mediterranean and Adriatic now at her disposal. If it is true that riots have started already in some Italian towns, and that the army, generally, is disaffected, Italy’s withdrawal from the war will come sooner than expected. However, it is well not to accept such reports without reserve. Germany could

not afford to remain passive at the prospect of Italy’s downfall. All that may be legitimately claimed at present, is that the Greeks have rendered a great service to Democracy’s cause, and the outlook has never been brighter since the French collapse.