ITALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1940, Page 3

ITALIAN NEWS

MUSSOLINI LOSING FAVOUR

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright)

NEW YORK, Dec. 7

Tlie International Agency’s Athens correspondent reports that esrious internal disturbances, bordering on revolt, liave broken, out in Milan, Florence, and Trieste. A number uL persons are reported to have been killed at Trieste, where there have been large scale clashes between Blackshirts and crowds protesting av the war' against Greece. At Milan and Florence, disturbances followed Marshal Badoglio’s resignation, which deeply shocked the Italians, many oi whom feel that Signor Mussolini’s policies are leading Italy to major disasters. ZURICH, Dec. 7. Reports of the sensation created by Marshal Eiadogolio’s resignation published' here include a statement that forty members of the General Staff have resigned with him. Wellinformed circles in Rome are quoted as saying that further important changes in the General Staff are expected.

ITALIAN ARMY AGAINST WAR

x LONDON, Dec. 7. A “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent on the Greek southern front, asked an Italian officer, who is a prisoner 'of war his opinion about the resignation of Marshal Badoglio. The officer replied: “It was only to be expected; our defeat has been due to' ; the megalomania: of Mussolini, who, taking' his stand on the principles of Fascism, exerted pressure on Marshal • Badoglio to agree to the campaign in tGreece-. The Italian military authorities opposed the idea; because it was fraught with difficulties, even if it' were iibt' disastrous. But II Due 3 wanted a success of some sort to impress Italy. Our defeat in Albania means a protest by the Italian people and army against Fascism. The destroyer of our country hopes to save his own face by throwing the blame on a grand patriot, Marshal Badoglio.’

BRITISH COMMENT

ITALIAN PEOPLE NOT FOR WAR

RUGBY, Dec. 7. The capture of Saranda and the ad- , vance of the’ Greek Army to the noith of the town are contrasted in the press j as showing a united effort and high morale in the Greek nation as against undoubted bewilderment among the Italian people at the resignation of • Marshall Badoglio, which is taken here i as a tacit admission that Greek claims ! are more likely to err on the side oi ; understatement than of exaggeration. It is generally felt that the loss to - Italy of one of her most able commanders, who was largely responsible for her success in Abyssinia, must have a depressing effect oh the people, who have not been too anxious for a war. of any kind, and als6 bring a realisation that Fascist political policy plunged Italy , into the Greek conflict without proper strategic preparation. A shrewd observer here gives (lie., following warning to Marshal Badoglio himself: “Remembering the untimely end of Marshal Rajbo, whose views on international policy had some resmblance to his own, he would certainly do. well to avoid going up in aeroplanes.”