The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
CHURCHILL CALLS
ON ITALIANS TO
GUST MUSSOLINl

Continued From Page One)
only just started from its base te
roll forward on its predestinee
track?"
He said this ''somber tale' is only
at it's beginning and "who can sag
where it will end?"
Diplomatic circles in Londor
were quick to label ChurchiH's ref
erence to the Italian domain If
Africa, where the British have
chased the Italians from Egypt
and are besieging them in Libya,
as n of the gravest ever utter
ed over the radio by n nation tc
another.
The speech was sent by informed
circles here as a portent of smash
ing events to come in the two thea
tiers of war-Africa and Albania
where the Italians are playing a
losing role.
Significance Emphasized
The significance of the prime
minister's bid to Italians to throw
Mussolini overheard was empha'
sized, these circles said, by the
possibility that Churchill nigh
have taken the microphone "be'
fore the news breaks" of Britain's
war effort being thrown into a fast
er gear.
Some sources expressed belief
that the speech, coupled with broad
hints in London that Britain has
been pulling punches recently
against the Italians, was an unmls'
taxable hint that Britain was ready
to crush Italy with the vast might
of her military force if italians
fail to take advantage Of Church
ills dramatically-timed invitation
to quit following Mussolini.
Other circles pointed out that the
deeply religious Italian people
might be in mood to listen t.
Churchill at the Christmas sea-
son.
It has been reported in London
that the Italian people do not have
their hearts in the war and are
saddened by war losses and severe
economic conditions.
Further, since the Italian re
verses in Albania and Africa, botf
official and unofficial reports have
quoted Italian prisoners as saying
they did not want to 60 to war
Zone Man"
Churchill placed the blame fol
the war on lone man."
"One man and n man alone
has ranged the Italian people II
deadly struggle against the Brit
ish empire and has deprived Italy
of the sympathy and intimacy O.
the United States of America. Tina
he is a great man I do not deny
but that after 10 years Of unbrld
led power he has led your country
to the horrid, veEge OF ruin can d.
denied by none.
sit is all one man who, agains'
the crown and royal family o
Italy. against the pope and all thu
authority of the vatican and OF the
Roman Catholic church, agains
the wishes of the Italian people
who had no lust for this war. ha:
arrayed the trustees and inheri
tors of ancient Rome upon the sid
of the ferocious pagan b~arbarians
There lies the tragedy of 1tal'
ian history and there stands the
criminal who has wrought the deco
of folly and of shame"
1t was pointed out authoritative
lily, in this connection, that Church
i'll attacked Mussolini alone at al
hour when the German Luftwafft
was increasing its threat to Brit
ain Nazi submarines e inten
styling their campaign and an IN
vasion was possible.
Cor Else"
Some circles borrowed an Amer
lean phrase and said the speech
was an "or else" warning uttered
in confidence that Britain woult
be able to implement it to the full
Churchill couched his three-fole
appeal in these terms:
Zone man and one man alone
ordered Italian soldiers to ravage
their neighbours vineyard. The
time has come when the Italian
monarchy and people who guare
the sacred center of Christendon
should have a word to say upo,
these awe-inspiring issues.
"Surely the Italian army, who
has no heart for the job, shoule
take some care of the life ane
future of Italy"
Recalling that Italy and Britain
had never been foes until now ane
were allies in the last war agains
Germany, Churchill said that al
though the institutions you adopt
ed after that war were not akir
to ours and diverged we like
each other, we got along together
"And now we are at war; nov
we r condemned to work 'eacl
others ruin; your aviators hav
tried to cast their bombs upon Lon
don; u armies are tearing an
will tear your African empire t
shreds and ~tatters."
Churchill even had words c
praise for II Duce, saying, "tha
The is a great man I do not deny
but after 10 years of unbridle
power he had led your country t
the horrid verge, of ruin can b