NAZI CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24083, 30 September 1941, Page 7

NAZI CONTROL

GROWTH IN ITALY i PUBLIC RESTIVENESS FASCISTS' STRONG GRIP (Reed. 6.20 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28 According to the correspondent of the Daily Express on the Italian frontier, Mussolini has summoned an immediate conference of the Fascist Party leaders in Rome. He is faced with a German demand that he extend martial law throughout Italy, and allow German military advisers to sit at all courts-martial. Already there have been mass arrests in Milan and Trieste, where martial law has been introduced. The Germans fear that the Italian people want a separate peace, and threaten completely to occupy Italy if the Gestapo and the Storm Troopers are not enabled to carry out control duty. " German Understanding " "Most Germans do not understand Italy's way of fighting, due to lack of knowledge of the real strategic positions in the Mediterranean," says the German newspaper Frankfurter Zeitung, discussing Italy's difficulties. "The Luftwaffe, after much hard fighting, knows why Malta is still in English hands. Our pilots know that only by constant attack can Malta's strategic value he reduced". The same applies to the Mediterranean bases from which the British Fleet is constantly menacing the Italian merchant fleet. "Our advantage in the Middle East lies in the fact that a great part of the British Forces is tied up there. Germany wants to keep Italy in the war as a partner. We assure Italy that the fighting in Russia is not making us for~ get Italy's worries in Africa." People's Resentment Reports which continue to ' reach London indicate that Italy is hardly less under the control of Germany than the nations conquered by the Nazi forces, and is hardly less restless. The introduction of bread rationing throughout the country is taken to confirm a report of the seriousness of the food position in Italy. The Moscow radio says Italian troops have been moved from Paris because of numerous brawls in restaurants between. German and Italian soldiers. The newspaper II Popolo di Roma says the rationing of basic foods is an unpopular measure, but there does not exist a fairer arrangement. The Columbia Broadcasting Company correspondent at Ankara said: "The Germans are active in Italy, not only as a military, but also as a bureaucratic force, and their presence is openly resented by the people and by high Fascist Party members alike. German officials now occupy key posts in all the Italian Ministries." Early Break Unlikely Suggestions, however, that the deep unrest which undoubtedly exists, Italy's dislike for the war and for the Germans and the waning faith in the Fascist system, may soon .'result in a break-up of the country and the. overthrow of its Government .are considered by' competent observers in London to be/to say the least, ture. The very fact that the authoritarian -ist system has been in control of country for so many years means that every important position in the country is held by members of the party, and every likely leader of an anti-Fascist rising has either been eliminated or is under close surveillance. - Plans to Supplant Duce The virtual control which the Germans have taken of the country will also considerably hamper any practical or organised expression of this growing unrest. A. correspondent on the Italian frontier says reports of an Italian break-up should not be converted by wishful thinking into the belief that this will hasten the end of the war. Hitler, for instance, has his own candidate for leadership in Italy, namely, the Italian Minister of State, Roberto Farinacci, who has been to Berlin three times for talks with Ribbentrop and Goebbels. There is also evidence that German agents are actually fostering the party crisis and betraying Mussolini.

FREE GREEK FORCES SERVICE WITH ALLIES (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28 Almost the entire personnel of the Greek Air Force, including the ground staffs, escaped to Allied territory in the Middle East, and some had taken part in the Syrian fighting, said the Greek Prime Minister, M. Tsouderos, in a speech in London. Aircraft previously ordered from the United States were now being delivered to them, but they needed more. Three-quarters of the navy and half the merchant marine also got away, the rest being sunk. M. Tsouderos, in paying a warm tribute of respect and admiration to the gallant British, Australian and New Zealand troops who fought with unparalleled heroism side by side with their Greek comrades in the battles of Greece and Crete, declared that their splendid courage had, more than anything else, cemented the ties of undying friendship which bind the two peoples. NEUTRAL SHIP SUNK FURTHER PROTEST URGED BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 29 A Senate resolution urged the Administration to protest again to Germany against the silking of the Argentine ship Uruguay. This is interpreted as a challenge to the President, Dr. Ramon Castillo, who chided the Chamber of Deputies for censuring the German Ambassador, von Thermann. The newspaper Critica has reported that von Thermann will leave the country within a few days, of his own accord. LINER AT SINGAPORE (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Bept. 28 The Lyons radio states that the liner Queen Elizabeth has put into Singapore for repairs.