BRITISH OBJECT

Grey River Argus, 10 January 1941, Page 5

BRITISH OBJECT

MUSSOLINI’S EXIT What Will Hitler Do ? I Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received January 10, 1.20 a.m.’ LONDON, January 9. The majority of military commentators here agree that Italy's North African power has been smashed, and that the question of the hour is what Italy’s position will be as the ally of Germany. It .is regarded as unlikely that Italy will seek a separate peace, or that she would aim to lessen her support to Germany. All the commentators agree that Herr Hitler’s problem has been aggravated by the fall of Bardia, stating he is now compelled to do one of two things. Either he must assist Italy in the Mediterranean by sending troops and ’planes into Italy, or he must abandon Italy and concentrate his attack on Britain.

The belief prevalent is that Herr Hitler will prefer to keep Signor Mussolini in the war, because this would continue to split the British war effort, and because, by retaining her place in the war, Italy will help to neutralise Germany’s Balkan troubles and also because it makes impossible even’ the remote possibility that the British might, eventually, attempt to strike at Germany through that region. One of Britain’s chief problems, as General Wavell is prepared to assault Tobruk, is to give the Italian people some solid reasons to hope that, with Signor Mussolini swept away, they could enjoy a happy future.