ITALY WITHIN

Grey River Argus, 18 December 1940, Page 5

ITALY WITHIN

Startling Conditions “DAILY MAIL’S” SERIES OF ARTICLES (Received Dec. 18, 12.40 a.m.) LONDON, December 16. The “Daily Mail” publishes the first of a series of special articles in which it? is describing startling conditions in Italy and revealing that Signor Mussolini has commsisioned an army to watch the Italian fleet because of incipient revolts. “Up to last week,” says the “Daily Mail,” “there has been no evidence of an imminence of revolution. The vast number of the younger Italians still regard Signor Mussolini as almost divine, but a great percentage oi more mature persons have doubts, and many are disturbed and humiliated. and are defeatist. Serious disaffection first appeared among submarine crews at Sicily, where two such crews refused to sail. The incident was hushed up, new crews replacing them. Later on a submarine crew in Brindisi protested against the war. They were arrested. A high naval officer who discussed the matter with a “Daily Mail” correspondent said that the navy’s morale was low because many officers were members of ancient families, who disliked Fascism, but, like King Victor, kept their ideas secret for fear it would provoke civil war, but now that Signor Mussolini was meeting trouble, they felt justified in moving against him. Italians elsewhere talk furtively of a possibility oi swift military defeat, and openly criticise the Fascist regime. A belief is prevalent that Signor Mussolini is contemplating a drastic political move, which may involve the abdication of King Victor, thus making him a scapegoat, and also of rounding-up on a number of military and political chiefs who are lukewarm towards Fascism WINTER POLICY IN ITALY (Received December 17, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 16. The Rom P correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says: Signor Adelchi Serena has announced a winter “battle on the internal front.” After a conference, with Signor Mussolini, Signor Serena ordered increased aid for the needy, with a strict watch over supplies, rationing, and prices, and at the same time the sever, ? suppression of hoarding and of speculation. The Fascist Party headquarters are operating the whole round of th e clock. Signor Serena predicted that the Blackshirts will break up any counter movements. i — PENALTY FOR HOARDERS (Received Dec.. 18, 1.2 a.m.) ROME, December 16. Il Duce has given orders that cases of hoarding shall be tried by a Special Tribunal for the Defence of the State. The death penalty will apply in the most severe cases.

Vatican Radio

DENIES PATRIARCH IS BRITISH PRISONER. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] ((Received Dec. 18, 1.2 a.m.) ROME, December 17. The Vatican’s Rome official newspaper “Osservatore Romano” has denied the report that tH£ Patriarch of Jerusalem, Monseigneur Luigi Barlassina has been made a prisoner in his home by the British authorities there. The radio said that he freely carries out his ministry.