ITALY’S POSITION

Grey River Argus, 9 January 1941, Page 5

ITALY’S POSITION

Cabinet Hopeful COMMENT ON BARDIA'S FALL. ROME, January 7. It is officially stated that Bardia has completely fallen into the hands of the British forces. A communique issued, announcing this said: “The last strongnolds which still resisted in Bardia fell towards the evening of January 5. The losses inflicted on the enemy were heavy. Our losses in material and men were also heavy, including dead, wounded and missing.” The Cabinet, meeting under Mussolini, reaffirmed Italy’s fidelity to the German alliance, and the AOs determination to fight on to victory. It also paid a tribute to the forces heroically fighting on several fronts against British Imperialism. The Cabinet expressed the conviction that proletarian and Fascist Italy 7 is equal to the greatness of the events.

The Council of Ministers drafted appropriations for the fiscal year, 1941-42, totalling 39,876 million lire, with a deficit of 8,794 million, and also approved the budget of the last fiscal year with a deficit of 28,033 lire,, mostly due to war expenses. The British advance in its present stage, says the Rome Radio, “does not alter the military situation for Italy in the East. Our main army is intact. General Wavell is now facing the same difficulties which the British saif] we were facing in our advance. Every tank, gun, and bullet used in the campaign in the Western Desert by the British goes in our favour, for they will not be able to replenish their equipment in Egypt, because of the Axis blockade. No matter what, happened at this particular stage of events, the ultimate fate of the British forces in the East is sealed. Britain has made a great mistake. We have not yet played our last card. We are full of confidence in II Duce, and we are certain that Fascism has been strengthened, as has been shown by the fierce resistance offered to the British troops.”

Axis Solidarity A REAFFIRMATION (Received January 8, 8.10 p.m.) BERLIN, January 7. The morning papers play up to the Italian proclamation that “the Italians have an unshakeable faith in the Axis.” The “Boersen Zeitung” says: “It is a lesson for all who, on this or that side of the ocean, have fallen a’ prey to a foolish illusion,, as though the life-and-battle community of the Axis Powers were as rotten and as empty as democratic alliances —as though a blow against one were sufficient to split their bronze block.”

German Press Comment BRITISH STATESMEN. ACCUSED OF EXAGGERATING SUCCESS. (Received January 9, 12.15 a.m.) LONDON, January 8. A "Times” correspondent on the German frontier says: "President Roosevelt’s . speech has remained completely unreported in Germany. There also is no comment in the German Press.

A conspicuous feature of German Press comment are concerted abusive attacks on leading British statesmen for their statements regarding the cfiap'.ure of Bardia., These statements are described as “wilfully misleading, exaggerating the significance of a partial' success in North Africa, while under-estimating, the strength of the Italian, military power.”