DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 July 1939, Page 8

DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY

GERMAN AND ITALIAN TROOPS. The difference between quality and quantity was tellingly illustrated in the Spanish War. writes Mr Rene MaeColl in the "Spectator.” Italian intervention was represented by the latter. Germany's Kondor Legion of "volunteers” was immeasurably more valuable to General Franco than the "legionaires” of the various” Arrow” divisions. The 10,000 highly-trained Germans with their artillery, tanks, armoured cars and aeroplanes, blasted the Republican troops from position after position. They wore the true artisan?, of final victory. The 40.000 or 50,000 Italians, gesturing and posing across the stage of the Spanish War, usually contrived to be in the picture. They failed to obtain results. The Germans in Spain impressed the observer is coldly efficient scientists, holding their test-tubes over the flame cf war. The Italians seemed anxious to please, but uncertain how best to do so. Their gaily-caparisoned infantry was always cither going up the Jin? or reluming to the base, witn mu?!’, beating of tom-toms. They at least appeared to mean well.