THE ITALIAN VICTORY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 44, 21 February 1936, Page 6

THE ITALIAN VICTORY

"pilE relative importance of the victory achieved by the

Italians against the Abyssinians cannot yet be gauged by studying the reports of either of the contestants. It is but natural for the defenders to minimise the importance of the recent Italian success, and it is equally desirable, from the Italian standpoint, to maximise it. The recently-reported picking up of a code message from Marshal Badoglio, indicating that the morale and physique of the Italian troops were low, may have been true. The prospect is that the Italians, after a prolonged period on the dry, hot lowlands, have suffered a considerable decline in physique, and with that would go the morale of the army. Soldiers returning to Italy would naturally spread the news of conditions in East Africa, while if recent reports are correct, those soldiers who have not yet embarked have no wish to do so, and there is considerable feeling among the civil population which is opposed to the war. Under such circumstances, therefore, the Government must be expected to exploit the victory of Enderta to the full. J t will do its best to enthuse the Italian people with the idea that they are engaged, not only in a just war, but also in a successful war. In warfare, as in other activities, nothing succeeds like success, and a volatile people like the Italians can hardly be expected to maintain any sort of elan while the war in Abyssinia drags on with the only results which are visible being the casualty lists. Dr. Brophil, a member of the lied Cross, denies that the Italians have reached all points they claim to have occupied, but their arrival at Antalo is confirmed. On the other hand, the Abyssinians admit that they are unable to estimate the damage which has been done by the recent reverse which they have suffered, because of the difficulty in getting into touch with the units engaged. This indicates that the Abyssinians have been routed, and that their original formation has been broken up, but with such troops as the Abyssinians reformation is a fairly easy matter, and a counterattack should not be regarded as wholly out of the picture.