ITALY’S ENTRY INTO WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24326, 17 June 1940, Page 11

ITALY’S ENTRY INTO WAR

SIGNIFICANCE FOR AUSTRALIA BITTERNESS, BUT NO LAWLESSNESS (By Tasman Air Mail) (From Our uwn Correspondent) SYDNEY, June 12. The entry of Italy imo the war is invested with special significance for Australia, ap.rt from me broad implications. Mussolini’s "jackal” decision y/as received with bitterness and execration here, but with little outward demonstration and without lawlessness. The event had been imminent for so long that the pepole had become well prepared for it. This possibly had a steadying effect. For months there had been so much talk of “smashing up the dagoes’ shops" when Italian intervention was eventually announced that the public and the authorities .were fully prepared to see rioting by our wilder elements. But the appeal of the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, and other leaders to the public not to resort to lawlessness rang throughout the continent, and the nubli’c listened. In addition, the time of the announcement was propitious for maintenance of law and order. Australians were going to, or were at, work before they knew Italy was a belligerent. Before mass passions could be roused, police and military had swooped, and thousands of unnaturalised Italians were under lock and key. Throughout the day police under Commonwealth authority were closing shops operated by unnaturalised aliens, and by nightfall any reason for lawlessness had disappeared. It is estimated that 1000 shops were closed. The arrested Italians were placed in gaols pending transfer to internment camps. During their raids the police seized many loaded revolvers and other arms, large quantities of Fascist literature. some of which had been sent from Italy, and an illicit still. Many of the Italians were arrogant. A number' of naturalised Italians were also arrested on special warrants. So far, there has been no reason to suspect that Italians had been storing arms in Sydney, but in Brisbane, in addition to an amazing, collection of firearms, a gun for firing the Italian equivalent of Verey light signals was confiscated. A body of about 300 university students attempted to march on the Italian Consulate-general here. They were intercepted by police, and they good-naturedly desisted on being requested to break up, and hilarious spirits “ chaired ” one of the constables. The consulate did not open its doors to the public. Police guarded it. The staff was engaged in burning documents throughout the day. On more than one score Australians now find themselves drawn more deeply and more intimately into the war. The uni's of the A.I.F. are drawn into the immediate war zone. By making the Mediterranean a theatre of war, Italy’has interrupted the direct air and steamer services between Australia and Britain. The presence of Italian air and naval forces, particularly submarines. based on Italian East Africa, carries the war into the Indian Ocean, and closer to the Australian continent. Finally. Australia has to cope with the probtem presented by the existence of a substantial Italian community, the largest group of alien nationals in the Commonwealth, Since the flow of immigrants has been greater from Italy than from any other foreign country for many years, a large propor'ion of Italian residents are relative new-comers, many of whom cannot read or speak English. There is no doubt that a number of Italians in Australia represent a dangerous element to security. It was because of this that the Commonwealth authorities took such prompt action yesterday. On the other hand, many Italian residents are prepared loyally to stand by Aus'ralia. and have proved themselves worthy citizens. Ministers and officials have striven to divert public resentment away from such people, rnd also from other southern Europeans. §uch as Greeks, Maltese and Cypfians. One immediate result of Italian intervention was a tremendous rush of recruits. Nearly 1500 applied for enlistment in Sydney yesterday double the daily average for last week. Australia’s statesmen have not minced words in their declarations. The Prime Minister, Mr Menzies. called the moment of Italy’s dcclara 4 ion of war the most contemptible and ignoble in her long'history. “Italy,” he said, “has no greater quarrel with us than she had nine months ago. She has been neutral until she made up her mind that Germany was going to_win, then she said, ‘We are coming in to share the loot.’ There will be no loot for Italy to share. I bear no grudge against the ordinary people of Italy, but unless Italy is made to discover in her own person in the next few weeks all the horrors of this war, you and I will be gravely disappointed._ I do not believe we will be disappointed. The New South Wales Premier, Mr Mair used an Australian word to describe Mussolini. He called him a “ dingo,’’ the native dog that preys on sheep and calves while they sleep at night. “Dingo” to an Australian is the most contemptible and insulting epithet for an enemy. “ Just as § dingo waits for its prey to be wounded or weakened.” said Mr Mair. so has Mussolini baulked at taking the plunge until he felt that England and France had been dealt a rnouai blow. But he is wrong. Retribution, swift and sure, will be his reward for such a typically cowardly action It is in keeping with the ruthless and brutal attacks on Abyssinia and Albania. Cowards fight in packs, but one coward more or less will not jeopardise final victory for the Allies.”