MUSSOLINI THROWS IN HIS HAND

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1943, Page 3

MUSSOLINI THROWS IN HIS HAND

King Takes Supreme Command; Appoints Badoglio Premier

(P.A.) Extraordinary. WELLINGTON, This Day. ROME RADIO ANNOUNCES THAT THE KING OF ITALY HAS ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION OF MUSSOLINI. ROME RADIO ALSO STATES THAT THE KING HAS ASSUMED SUPREME COMMAND OF THE ITALIAN ARMED FORCES, AND MUSSOLINI’S SUCCESSOR AS PRIME MINISTER AND CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT IS MARSHAL BADOGLIO. Mussolini relinquished the posts of head of the Government, Home Secretary and Prime Minister. At the conclusion of the broadcast the Royal Anthem was played in full, but the Fascist anthem was not heard. The text of the King of Italy’s proclamation, given by Rome radio was: “Italians: From today I assume high command over the armed forces. In this solemn hour of grave anxiety for the fate descending on our Fatherland, everybody must take up his post. No recriminations can be allowed. Every Italian must bow before the grave wounds that have rent the sacred soil of our Fatherland. “Italy, through the valour of her troops and determination of her civil population, will find, in the respect of her old institutions, the way of recovery. More than ever before 1 am indissolubly united with you by unshakeable faith in the immortality of the Fatherland.” The proclamation was signed by King Victor Emmanuel and counter-signed by Pietro Badoglio.

War To Continue

(Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON. July 25. MARSHAL BADOGLIO ISSUED THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION: “ITALIANS! ON THE ORDERS OF THE KING EMPEROR, I AM TAKING OVER THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY WITH FULL POWERS. THE WAR CONTINUES. “Italy, grievously stricken in her invaded, provinces and in ruined towns, maintains her faith in her given word, jealous of her ancient traditions. The ranks should be closed around the majesty of the King Emperor, the living image of the Fatherland, an example to all. The call of the day is that his precise, unmistakable will be scrupulously obeyed. Whoever thinks to frustrate normal development, or attempts to disturb public order will be inexorably punished. “Long live Italy! Long live the King!” (Signed) Marshal of Italy, Pietro Badoglio.

Significant Omission

Mussolini’s resignation was first disclosed to the Italians at the beginning of the final news bulletin at 10.45 o’clock tonight. The proclamation was read without introduction, after which Rome radio continued transmission without embellishment. The usual method of dating official Italian proclamations, giving the year 21 of the Fascist era, was omitted. Marshal Badoglio, 75-year-old Italian army chief, has opposed Mussolini since the start of the Fascist regime. He is one of the men who took a grip of Italy after the Caporetto disaster in 1917. He is a close friend of King Victor Emmanuel and has always represented the Royalist viewpoint. Marshal Badoglio is not among those of the army who sided with the blackshirts, when Mussolini led his march on Rome in October, 1922. The story goes that Badoglio urged Victor Emmanuel to give him three battalions to “scatter this rabble.” The King, not wanting bloodshed, refused and the rabble won the day. When the Italians’ Abyssinian war progressed too slowly, Badoglio replaced Marshal De Bono in November, 1935, after which he re-planned the entire campaign and smashed the resistance of the unfortunate Abyssinians with liberal use of mustard gas sprayed from aeroplanes. Badoglio entered Addis Ababa within three months, after which he was appointed Viceroy of Abyssinia. He resigned and returned to Rome in 1936, thereafter being created Duke of Addis Ababa. He went to Berlin in September, 1937, and conferred with the German general staff. He inspected the Libyan defences in February, 1939. Badoglio was confirmed as Chief of the General Staff in November, 1939, and was delegated Commander-in-Chief of the army when Mussolini entered the war in June, 1940. He was one of the Italian commissioners appointed to fix the terms of the armistice with the French after the collapse of France.

Benito Mussolini, founder of modern Fascism, was born at Dovia. in the province of Forli, in 1884. His father was a blacksmith with internationalist, and antireligious opinions; his mother had been a school-teacner and held decply-religious convictions. He qualified as a scnool-teaein-r by the time he reached the age of 13. Becoming interested ir. Socialism, he went to Switzerland, where he attended courses at the Lausanne and Geneva universities. In 19u4, he was expelled from Switzerland for nis advocacy of Marxian Socialism. He returned to Italy and to teaching. In ISCB he went to Tronic, and made a study of German literature and philosophy. His Socialist activities and writings once again came to the fore, and he was expelled from Austria. Upon his return to Italy he founded and edited a paper at Forli. He became a director of the Italian Communist Party, but was expelled from it in 1914. wnen he urged that Italy should enter the World Wav on the side of the Entente Allies. With the advent of Radicalism and Communism in 1919, Mussolini formed the first “Fascio di Combattimento,” in opposition to these activities. This was the beginning of modern Fascism. In 1922, the party had bee- pe strong, and had momebrs throughou,. Italy, so Mussolini decided the time for bold action was at hand. The Government resigned, and the King sent for Mussolini, who formed a Cabinet in seven hours. Mussolini soon concentrated power in the Fascist Parry. The principal Cabinet portfolios were retained by himself. The first election under the electoral reform system occurred on March 24. 1929. and the result was a vote of overwhelming approval for Mussolini and his policies. Mussolini consummated rapprochement between the Italian Government and the Catholic Church on February 11, 1929. Outstanding among his subsequent actions were the launching of war against Abyssinia, the conduct of which was a reproach to Christian civilisation. Moved by ambition to restore the glories of the ancient Roman Empire, Mussolini expanded the Italian occupation of North Africa. Then came the present war. Mussolini, believing Britain and France to be defeated by the Germans, and wishing to share in the plunder of further conquests, entered the conflict. Today, with Italy facing complete defeat, and himself a discredited figure, Mussolini has resigned, and another reigns in his stead. Nine days ago, President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill appealed to the Italian people to overthrow Mussolini,

Badoglio Opposes Nazis Badoglio is recognised as an able administrator and diplomat above the average, also as demanding honesty and loyalty in undertakings with which he is concerned. He is believed to be opposed to the German alliance and tried to resist Nazificatior. of Italy. Break With Duce Eadoglio went to Tirana in November, 1940, alter he was appointed commander in chief of the Italian Army in Albania, where the Greeks were humiliatingly defeating the Italians. A week after Badoglio’s arrival at Tirana it was announced he would be relieved at his own request of the post of chief of the General Staff. He returned to Italy and bade Mussolini farewell on December 12. 1940. What then passed between Badoglio and Mussolini is unknown, but the extremist newspaper “Regime Fascista” attacked Badoglio furiously, saying he always disapproved of the war against Greece. Badoglio, since December 1940, especially during the Axis defeats in North Africa was reputedly at loggerheads with Mussolini. Neutral observers always believed Victor Emmanuel, at a moment of emergency, would again call on the man who stepped into the breach after Caporetto. Rome radio made abundantly' clear the purpose of the recent meeting between the dictators. Mussolini must have gene to tell his Fuehrer that he was faced with a crisis and Germany could count no further upon his assistance. It must have been a meeting of intense drama.

It is almost impossible to foretell the future. The House of Savoy appears to have taken a prominent part in events which led to the i-esignation of Mussolini. However, neither the King nor House of Savoy enjoys any wide measure of popularity in Italy. In the industrial north they are t definitely* unpopular. It does not seem possible that the King or Badoglio should succeed where Mussolini failed in persuading a people tired of war and deeply hating their Allies, to continue to fight.