Evening star., 1936-05-17

Austria-the Brenner Pass-with
headquarters at Bolzano and Udine.
On the Yugoslav border, from Gorilla
to Volosca, there are six divisions Of
regulars. The balance of the army Is
densely concentrated behind these
advanced posts from Verona to
Florence down to Rome and Naples,
while two independent commands.
with three divisions each, are located
in Sicily and Sardinia.
But Italy places the utmost conf
dence for victory and security in the
air force. And this is natural The
industrial center of Italy is situated
in the north, which is within easy
striking distance of France, Germany
and Yugoslavia. Consequently, her
aviation has been organized to carry
the offensive into enemy territory.
italian industry has been mobilized
for the last four months and placed
at the disposal of the government.
According to the latest reliable statis-
tics, it can produce 800 planes and
1000 engines every month. In addi-
ton to the 10000 men who form the
personnel of the active and reserve
aviation, some 100000 young men
have been trained to fly during the
last two years.
Mussolini has once, more honored
France by placing an important part
of the mobilized air force on her bor-
ders. At Mirafiori alone there are
Is pursuit squadrons and 8 night
bombing squadrons. While the Aus
trian border is covered by squadrons
of light planes, there is a heavy con-
centration Of airplanes on the Yugo-
slav frontiers at Campoformido,
Merna and Pola. The rest of the
force is distributed along the coast,
in Sicily and the Dodecanese Islands.
Financial Status Problem.
Whatever concealed opposition
there may have been against II Duce,
1t has now been swept away by
Badoglios victories. There is, of
course, a fly in the ointment, but the
italian people do not see it yet-that
is Italy's economic and financial posi-
tion. Once in q while it is referred
to by Mussolinis spokesmen, but in
the same breath they brush it aside
by recalling that Napoleon Bona
parte. with hungry, bare-footed men,
almost conquered Europe. And the
Italians are not quite so hungry as
Napoleon's troops were.
The sanctions imposed by the
League Of Nations have failed prin-
cipally because italy conquered Ethio-
pia much quicker than was expected.
Had the Ethiopians shown more re-
sEtance and had all the Sanctionist
nations applied the economic embargo
more strictly and more honestly, a
different chapter would have been
written in the history of Italy.
Six months Of half hearted applied
sanctions have resulted in depletion
Of Italy's gold reserves by 40 per cent;
an increase in paper money circula-
tion Of 80 per cent, and an increase
IN the average cost of living by about
20 per cent.
It Is true that Mussolini did his
best to counter the effects Of the sane
tions by using substitutes wherever
possible. Thus cotton Is being manu-
factured out Of tree bark, cloth out
Of mixture Of 20 per cent wool and
80 per cent cassein.
As long as Italy can obtain the
necessary raw materials for the prose-
cution Of war, there Is nothing that
~ stop the Italian people from
e.s,.sing this method to settle any
future disputes. And there Is no rea.
son to think that business men in
most countries will not assist II Duce
II they can see any profit In deal
ing with the Italian dictator.
Soon after the occupation Of the
,Tana Lake by Badoglio's forces cer-
J tain American concerns realized that
Ethiopia was finished. They decided
to peg their claims before their British
or German competitors.
Presidents and vice presidents Of