ITALIAN UNREST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23840, 16 December 1940, Page 7

ITALIAN UNREST

PUBLIC DISILLUSIONED SHOCK OF DEFEATS SPLIT IN FASCIST PARTY By Telegraph—.Press Association—Copyright (Received December 15, 0.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Dec. 14 While it is apparent that the Italian people do not regard with equanimity the reversals experienced by Italian arms, it is not likely that the British and Greek victories, brilliant as they are, will at once bring about a debacle on the Italian home front. The present situation must, however, come as a profound shock even to devoted followers of the Duce. especially as events have shown how ill-prepared the country was for the military adventure rushed into by its political chief at a time when he thought great gains could be secured from the success of his fellow-dictator, at the expense of an unfortunate neighbour. Politicians Blame Army Unrest and disillusionment are at present manifesting themselves even within Fascist circles, and an effort is being made to divert criticism from the politicians and concentrate the blame on the army. Evidence that such unrest is occurring is supplied by the prominent politician and journalist Roberto Farinacei, who, in a newspaper article, states that it has become necessary to issue strict orders to all leaders of the Fascist executives stating that the Fascist Party will apply the sharpest measures against those who do not or will not understand that Italy is at war, while soldiers are sacrificing their lives at the front. A definite end will be put to defeatism and anti-Fascist propaganda. Attack on Badoglio Farinaeci's newspaper, Regime Fascista, accuses Marshal Badoglio of endeavouring to split the Italian nation and place the responsibility for the situation in which Italy finds herself, especially in Albania, on the Fascist Party. Farinacei alleges that Badoglio is spreading a report in influential circles that the army staff was not responsible for the war against Greece, to which it had always objected, and that, when the staff was forced to attack, it first asked for a greater number of troops than those at its disposal. The article concluded with a remarkable appeal to the Italian nation to rally round Mussolini and the frontline fighters. Further Trouble Likely It is clear that the article, in which reference is made to the offensive spirit of the Libyan army and Italian successes in Northern Africa, was written before the defeat at Sidi Barrani, which cannot fail further to accentuate the internal dissensions. Commenting on that article the Daily Telegraph says: "Farinacei has been allowed, or ordered, to proclaim what looks almost like civil war. Badoglio and his friends in high places and in the army are the enemy." The newspaper then points out that the Duce himself is commander-in-chief of the army, and he readily accepted the laurels of victory, but apparently expected Badoglio to shoulder the responsibility iu meeting adversity. It adds: "Before now self-imposed Governments have found it necessary to find scapegoats in military commanders, and before now the scapegoat has turned into a veritable unicorn. The Rome radio spoke truly when at the end of an endeavour to belittle the Greek and British successes it stated: 'The Italian people are aware that they are living in the gravest hour of their history.' " Many thousands of German officers and Gestapo agents have been sent to Rome to stiffen Italian morale, according to an American correspondent. POSSIBLE PAUSE DESERT OPERATIONS LONDON, Dec. 14 Military circles in London, commenting on operations in the Western Desert, where on a 420 square miles' battlefield the British forces are engaged in "mopping up" pockets of resistance found among scattered and disorganised Italian troops, point out that a pause in operations or even no further news should cause neither surprise nor disappointment when the activities of the last five days are considered in their proper perspective, as well as the task immediately before the British troops. The great distances in the waterless country make dealing with as many as 20,000 prisoners a task of difficulty, while five days of desert fighting and travelling long distances impose a severe strain on men and machines, necessitating rest, repair and overhaul,