Italy Has Already Lost the War

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 7

Italy Has Already Lost the War

GERMAN GENERAL STAFF’S OPINION

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.

Received Monday, 7.46 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 13.. The News-Chronicle says that trustworthy sources indicate growing Italian uneasiness at the immobility of the armies and the difficulty of maintaining supplies over crumbling lines of communication. It is understood the Gorman General Staff has reported to Hitler that Mussolini had lost the war in Abyssinia. Accordingly the attractiveness of Mussolini’s political position is becoming increasingly isolated and his Austrian and Hungarian friends are growing lukewarm. The Manchester Guardian’s Paris correspondent says that M. Chambrun, French Ambassador at Rome, had two lengthy conversations with M. Laval. It is understood M. Chambrun detailed the position in Italy which is described as going from bad to worse. The economic difficulties are rapidly increasing and the people are becoming more aware of the folly of the Abyssinian adventure. As a result the Government will soon be only too glad to receive a new “honourable” offer. Although the French are anxious to see the war end early, it is now widely felt that Italy must be allowed to sink deeper into the bog before she is likely to listen to rear son. Even newspapers which ardently defended Mussolini last year now condemn his folly in refusing to accept the Paris proposals in August and his Pontinia speech. The newspapers credit. Britain with a desire to secure peace before a complete Italian breakdown, largely in view of the complications Germany may create by suggestions that Anglo-French military and naval co-operation should be balanced by reconsidering the demilitarisation of the Rhineland zone.

Turkey’s Reply to Italy.

The Times’ Constantinople correspondent says the Italian Ambassador at Angora sent a Note to the Turkish Foreign Minister, asking whether Turkey’s affirmative reply to Britain, stating readiness to fulfil her obligations under Article XVI of the League Covenant is reconcilable with the ItaloTurkish Treaty of Friendship in 1928.

It is understood Turkey is replying after consultation with the other members of the Balkan Entente, when it is presumed she will point out her action was dictated by obligations to which the treaty obligations were automatically subordinated. The members of the Balkan Entente have decided, in conjunction with the Little Entente, that they , will support all the proposals submitted jointly to the League for a solution of the Ethiopian dispute by England and France.

Fench Appeal to King George

BRITISH WARSHIPS IN THE mediterranean.

Received Monday, 9.50 p.m. PARIS, Jan 13

The Right Wing, journal, Lc Matin, conspicuously prints an open letter to King George protesting against the despatch of British warships to the Medi terranean. It says: ‘ 1 This is almost as serious a menace to the principles ol Genova as Mussolini’s aggression in Abvssii.ia'as Article X eonta'ns a warning against individual action which might change the guarantees of peace into risks of war.” The letter concludes: “May your Government, Sire, lake thought to-day as it should have done in J 914 and the lives of millions will be saved. Wo liope you will most those inescapably logical reflect - ! jns with that noble spirit of justice and clear-sightedness which vju have always consecrated to your great nation and the peoples of your tar flung empire.”

Preparing Italy for Long

Campaign

WAR OF PICKS RATHER THAN GUNS Received Monday, 9.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 13.

The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent says a military survey published in H Messagero is interesting as preparing the nation for the type of campaign which lies ahead. Slow, laborious progress. on the Tigre front is indicated in the statement that colonial wars are perhaps won with picks rather than guns. Action on the Somaliland front is admittedly at a standstill. Here it is General Graziani who is pursuing a waiting policy.

Preparing for Raid on Capital

WARNING TO INHABITANTS. LONDON, Jan. 13. The Daily Telegraph’s Addis Ababa correspondent says a proclamation was read to the church congregations issuing a warning that the Italians would probably bomb Addis Ababa between January 29 and 22, which are the days of the Abyssinian Epiphany celebrations bringing tens of thousands to the. capital. The inhabitants have been ordered to construct shelters and those uot obeying within a week will be fined.