davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-03-16
Long,
Bombing
By Lothrob Stoddard

Sicily-ac easy run for fleet of trans
ports bearing war-hardened veterans of
the Imperial Army Of the Nile.
Sicily has an area of approximately
10000 square miles, trifle larger than
the combined areas of Massachusetts and
Rhode Island. 1t is shaped like a tri-
angle, the blunt apex pointing westward;
whence the poetic name, Trinacria, given
it in classic times. Most of its surface
is rugged and mountainous, eliminating
in the gigantic volcanic cone of Mount
Etna situated not far from the Straits
of Messina.
Strangely Aloof From Peninsula.
Though geographically so close to the
italian peninsula, Sicily has been
strangely aloof from it during much of
its long history. In many ways, Sicily
looks toward Africa, with which 1t was
once connected by land bridge in fairly
recent geologic times. The original in
habitants seem to have been of the same
dark-white stock which form the basic
population of North Africa, and the first
civilized invaders were the Phoenicians,
thus introducing the strong Semitic
strain evident even today in the Sicilian
stock. Phoenician occupation was pres
emily disputed by the Greeks, who dotted
the shores of Sicily with splendid cities
and made the island one of the most
f1ourishirg portions of the Hellenic
world. A long struggle between these
Sicilian Greeks and Phoenician Carthage
ended when the rising power of Rome
invaded the island and subdued them.
However, Rome never impressed its
Latin civilization deeply on Sicily, which
remained predominantly Greek in Ian
guage and culture, and this Hellenic
imprint lasted well into the Middle Ages,
since Sicily became province of the
Byzantine Empire at Constantinople.
During that period Byzantine rule was
strenuously challenged by the Saracens
from nearby Africa, and much of the
island became Mohammedan in religion
and Arabic in civilization. This REIN
forced the Semitic and North African
elements in the population first intro
duced by the Phoenicians and Cartha-
ginians in classic days.
Sicily's Golden Age.
About the time Normans under Will
liam the Conqueror were subduing Eng
land, other bold Norman adventures
overran Sicily and established a flourish
ing kingdom. This, indeed, was Sicily's
golden age. Presently the Norman
kings conquered Southern Italy and
united it to Sicily. Then it was that the
Italian language and culture began to
permeate the island. OF course, at that
time, there was no Italian nation. The
peninsula was cut up into many inde-
pendent states, and Italian national
unity was not achieved until 1870. After
the Norman kings died out Sicily fell
into evil days. Ruled, or rather mis-
Evening star., 1941-03-16
Battle for Britain

Threats as we'll as bombs were tossed
at England last week. The first threat
came from unoccupied France, where
the Vichy governments Vice Premier,
Admiral Jean Darlan, informed Amer
lean press representatives that French
ships would be conveyed if the British
blockade of France continued. II will
fet nothing stand in the way of the
French peoples eating" Admiral Darlan
said. THE Germans are more generous
and more comprehensive of the needs
Of humanity than the English" He OBJ
served that few boatloads of wheat,
which France would like to get from
the United States, would not affect the
wars outcome. London indicated the
blockade would be continued.
A more direct, blustery threat came
from Germany on Wednesday, I'VE
are determined to
Aid on Way torpedo everything
oEnaIond that approaches Eng
land" Nazi spokes-
man in Berlin said. He expressed the
lease-lend bill. On Friday in Washing
ton Secretary of War Stimson told his
press conference that goods from this
country already were on their way to
England in accordance with lease-lend
provisions. President Roosevelt gave a
general catalogue of goods to Congress
which would be sent to England and
Evening star., 1941-03-16

ruled, from Naples, the Sicilians sank
into er-deepening poverty and back
wardness. Most of the land was owned
by few great proprietors. The bulk of
the people were either rack-rented ten
ants or landleSs agricultural laborers.
Brigandage was rife and lawless violence
prevailed.
Though conditions improved after
Italy united under its present house of
Savoy, progress in Sicily was slow, and
even today it is one of the poorest and
most backward parts of Italy. MusSo-
lini has made many promises to break
up the big estates and modernize the
island, but most of his reforms have re-
manned on paper. Sicily is still, as it
has been for centuries, full of discomfort
and unrest. One phase of this is per-
sistent tendency toward separatism. The
Sicilians continue to realize how differ
ent they are from the Itslians of the
mainland, and at various times move
ments have arisen for local autonomy or
even for full independence.
Tendency Toward Separatism.
This separatist trend came out
strongly during the troubled period after
the World War. Indeed, not only Sicily
but the neighboring island of Sardinia,
also neglected and backward, showed
signs of breaking loose from Italy and
setting up independent republics. These
movements were quickly suppressed
when Mussolini established his Fascist
regime with its ardent nationalism and
strong political Capitalization. Yet the
Sicilian "autonomist" movement, as it
calls itself, has lived on, nurtured espe-
cially among Sicilian emigrants abroad,
who have tended to band together in
self-conscious colonies, often quite dis
tinct from other emigrant Italians.
Despite a rigid censorship, news has
leaked out that Sicilians dislike the
present war and tend to turn against the
Fascist regime, which to the autonomists
seems like half alien rule
1t is therefore not unlikely that a
British expeditionary force would find
much lukewarmness for the present
Italian government among the Sicilian
population, and might even get some
active support from autonomist partis-
ans If communications with the main
land could be cut at the Straits of Mes
sina, British occupation of Sicily might
not prove an especially difficult under
taking. The backbone of resistance to
the British would quite likely be Ger
man troops. Besides air squadrons, Ger
man Army detachments are understood
to be already in Sicily and their num-
bers might be rapidly augmented If a
British attack were anticipated. But
this, in turn, would presumably increase
local discomfort, since nowhere in Italy
are the Germans liked by the Italian
people.
Whether q British landing in Sicily
Evening star., 1941-03-16
Far East Front

An Oriental visitor headed for Berlin
last week in search of good advice. He
was Foreign Minister Matsuoka Of
Japan, who left Toxic on Wednesday,
expecting to reach Germany in two
weeks. He will call also at Rome, the
other axis headquarters. Why? The
newspaper La Tribuna of Rome declared:
Yesterday America spoke" Mean
ing by the lease-lend enactment) Soon
Japan will say her word.
Joponese 1t is for this that Matsuoka
Menace is coming to Berlin and
Rome" What can Japan
do to help the axis cause? That is the
information MI. Matsuoka will receive.
Meanwhile, Japan took a step in her
own war with China. Domei the Japa-
nese news agency, radioed on Thursday
that Japanese forces evacuated "on their
own initiative" an area which they had
held for two years and five months-the
Tungcheng area, in Southeastern Hupeh
Province in the Chinese interior. The
spokesman of Japanese forces was quoted
as recalling that the japanese had with
drawn also from the Wuning area in the
adjoining province of Kiangsi March 9.
Both Tungcheng and Wuning are south
of the Yangtze and east of Lake Poyang.
Tungcheng is about 100 miles south Of
Hangkow.
The japanese spokesman was quoted
as saying the forces disposition had
been changed "in order to secure more
favorable positions
The Asiatic sore spot which might
have caused trouble in Europe was
slicked over Tuesday. On that day Thai
land and French Indo-China signed a
Japanese sponsored peace agreement.
Thus ended dispute between the two
countries that four months ago inspired
border warfare. Thailand was given
some Indo-Chinese territory-part Of
Cambodia and Laso, embracing Indo-
Chinas richest producing area.
Evening star., 1941-03-16
AXIS PLANS WAR OF NERVES AGAINST u. S.
Expected Stir Trouble in South America

The passage of the lease-lend bill, in
stead of being discounted by the totaH-
tartan governments, is causing concern
in Berlin and Rome. Following the usual
tactics of the axis, they are determined
to extend the war of nerves, in the fu-
ture, to the Western Hemisphere, with
special attention to the United States.
Berlin's plan for expanding this war
of nerves to the west is clear. Beginning
Immediately, and continuing until the
campaign against Great Britain ceases
to be deadlock. the United States must
be terrorized. For this purpose the
japanese foreign minister, Matsuoka, has
been invited to Berlin. The German
agents in the key republics of South
America have received special instruc-
tions to stand by for action. Several
shipped from this country recently to
the Southern Hemisphere.
Strange as it may seem, the United
States Government has frozen the
monies deposited in this country by the
countries which have been conquered
or otherwise occupied by the Reich. But
the State Department has systematical-
~ turned a deaf ear to any suggestions
that German and Italian funds should
be frozen.
Blitzkrieg Expected Soon.
The blitzkrieg against Great Britain
in its initial form-total blockade by
sea and airs expected to be launched
with all its fury and in a spectacular
manner as soon as the Balkan situation
has been Strengthened out"
The Berlin government will leave no
stone unturned in attempting to demon
strate to the American public that any
active intervention in this war is useless
and that the people of this country run a
risk of losing everything without stand
ing to gain anything if they take
Britain's side in the present conflict.
In order to achieve this purpose the
axis thinks it is necessary to adopt a
policy which brings home forcefully to
the people of this country the fact that
the United States will have to fight on
two fronts, in the event that we decide
to go to Britains rescue with all our
available resources.
The impending visit of Matsuoka to
Berlin is reported to have been prompted
by the fact that the Japanese are not
quite clear as to their future policies.
The occupation of French Indo- China
was pleasant operation. 1t has cost
Japan the fuel necessary to move the
fleet from its home bases to the Gulf Of
Siam and Tong Kin. Some of the jap
anese military f1re-eaters would like to
risk an attack on Singapore and the
Dutch East Indies, despite the misgivings
Of the adnirals, who are worried lest
Evening star., 1941-03-16
INVASION OF SICILY A BRITISH POTENTIAL|TY
Epedionoy Force Might Be Helped by seporotst Sentiment

Sicily is getting into the war news and
may soon make front-page headlines
For this large island, just off the tip
of the boot-shaped Italian peninsula
is one of the key points in the great
drama of sea and land power now being
played out to the bitter end in the
Mediterranean.
Lying only 80 miles from the nearest
point on the African coast, strategic
Sicily almost blocks Britains naval life
line through the Mediterranean, espe-
cially since Italy'S fortified islet of Pam
tellaria rises midway in this relatively
narrow stretch of water. In recent weeks,
flights of German Stuka bombers based
on Sicilian airfields have viciously at
tackled British warships and conveys.
From Sicily, likewise, Italian and Ger
man reinforcementS for Marshal Grazl-
ani's hard-pressed army in Libya are
said to have slipped through the British
blockade under cover OF darkness. So
long as Sicily remains in axis hands,
Britain's mastery of the Mediterranean
cannot be completely assured.
However, the crumbling of Italys Afri-
can Empire and the growing weakness
of the Fascist regime in Italy itself rem
ders it possible that Britain may launch
q sudden offensive at Sicily, thus secur-
ing her hold on the Mediterranean and
dealing Fascist Italy a staggering blow
which might be the prelude to collapse.
Such an invasion has been openly dis
cussed in British circles. Provided
Britain does not become too deeply in
volved in the Balkan-T Turkish situation,
1t must be considered a distinct pos
sibility.
Would Not Be First Time.
This would not be the first time Brit
ish troops have occupied Sicily. They
earrisoned the island during most of the
Napoleonic wars as allies of the King
Of Naples and Sicily, exiled from his
Neapoltan capital when the peninsula
of Italy had been overrun by the French.
For years, British and French sentries
faced each other across the straits OF
Messina which separates Sicily from the
mainland. At their narrowest point the
SITdlIS are Ollly INO WlOc, pue
they have never been bridged, since the
water is nearly thousand feet deep,
and even today ferries ply from shore
to shore Since both banks are noun
famous, crossing would be extremely
difficult in face of well-entrenched de-
Tending troops. Once masters of the
island and in command Of the sea
Britain presumably could hold Sicily
against an axis counter-attack.
A descent on Sicily would be favored
by Britains possession of her great
stronghold of Malta, an island lying
only so miles due south of the Sicilian
coast. And besides Malta, Britain now
holds all Eastern Libya, recently con-
quered from the Italians. The fine port
Of Bengasi is less than 400 miles from
Evening star., 1941-03-16

pose: /. Increase the British raids ef-
fectiveneSs. q Force the Germans to
disperse their anti-aircraft defenses.
Thursday night the R. A F. mauled
Hamburg. Berlin said that more than
so persons were killed in the destruction
in Hamburg of two hospitals. While
the British blasted Hamburg, the Ger
mans pounded Liverpool. Wednesday
night, the Germans said, the Nazi pilots
caused more destruction in Liverpool
than they did in Coventry in the fear
some raid of four months ago.
Hell broke loose on the Mersey," one
German pilot reported. He described an
ocean of flames" on the river which
laps at Liverpool. Far from Liverpool
the British were visiting Berlin, for the
first night in 80 days. Sixteen Berliners
were killed and 81 injured, according to
reports.
While the skies were filled with death,
the peril of the sea grew. The British
Admiralty announced that
PeriIs England had suffered the
AtSeo heaviest toll of merchant
shipping in the sea war since
last october during the week ended
March 2; to the be - went % British,
allied and neutral <ssels, 148,03 tons
in all, carrying cargoes to the British
Isles. The average weekly loss since the
wars beginning, excluding operations in
the withdrawal of the British forces from
Dunkerque, was 63,342 tons.
In the counterwar at seq, a British
plane torpedoed a German destroyer in
the Skagerrak, link in the waterway con-
Meeting the North and Baltic Seas. The
planes crew reported that it was too
Evening star., 1941-03-16

Although any German big push in
the Balkans probably will await settle
ment of the Yugoslav prob
Nozisvs. lem, the Nazis are already
Greeks contributing to the Greek
war. Members of the British
party which arrived with Mr.. Rendel in
Istanbul said they were told by Greek
officer that German planes already had
begun bombing Greek towns from Bull
garian bases.
All reports reaching Istanbul from Bull
garia indicated the big German Army
concentrated along the Greek and Turk
ish frontiers was ready to go at mo-
ment's notice. And Greece gave every
indication she was determined to fight
a Nazi invasion.
Kostas Kotzias, Governor of Athens,
arrived on Wednesday in Thrace, the
northeastern province of Greece which
lies first in the pathway of a German
pouring southwark from Bulgaria
Meanwhile, unofficial reports reached
Belgrade that 100000 British troops had
landed in Southern Greece.
At the other end of the Mediterranean
the Germans heard the sort of sweet
words which they would like to hear in
Belgrade and Athens. Ramon Serrano
Suner, the Spanish Foreign Minister, said
in Madrid that no one should doubt
"the unshakeable flrmness" of Spains
friendship with Germany" The course
of life in another country which is per-
force allied with Germany was disclosed
in dispatch from Bucharest, the capital
of Rumania. 1t said that the Rumanian
Minister of Agriculture had issued a
decree that all able bodied Rumanians
IL wears of ace and ahnue ma 10 and
Evening star., 1941-03-16
BY Constantine Br0pn.

such an attack might prove lengthy
and difficult operation.
The Germans want none of this. They
argue that both prizes would fall into
the lap of Japan like ripe plums, as soon
as Britain is compelled to hoist the white
flag over London. The prospects of the
white flags being hoiSted are dimmed by
the possibility that the United States
may rush, materially, to Britain's sup
port.
Hence, while few weeks ago all that
the Germans wanted of the Japanese
was to assist in cutting off all communi-
cation between Australia and Britain,
now it appears desirable that Japan
should do some saber rattling for the
benefit of the American public.
Threat of War.
1t is essential, in the reported opinion
of the Berlin leaders, that the specter of
war in the Pacific should be brought as
near as possible to the people of the
United States. Hence the present plan
of operation of the japanese Army and
Navy may have to be changed and
Japan's fleet may have to be called upon
to keep the United States principal
naval forces in the Pacific.
The Germans realize that our Atlantic
fleet alone can be of only relative assist
ance to Great Britain. 1t is an adequate
patrolling force, composed of old and
modern units which, in ordinary circum-
stances, would have been of material as
sistance to the blockaded island. But It
IS not considered sufficient to meet the
pitfalls of campaign in which at least
500 submarines and several thousand
raiding planes might become involved.
The logical deduction, in the event that
this force is sent out for conveying pur-
poses, is that when losses have been
sustained, replacements will have to be
taken from the modern and extremely
efficient Pacific Fleet. In order to pre-
vent such an unpleasant surprise, the
Germans would like to see the striking
arm of the United States naval power
immobilized in the Pacific.
Japanese Fleet Concentrated.
The concentration of the japanese
fleet in the Southern Pacific is nearly
completed. If that fleet showed hostile
intentions toward the United States,
such as demonstration before the Phil
ippine Islands or even an exploring
force" east of the inundated islands,
the American public would become
excited and would clamor for the MAIN
tenance of the Pacific Fleet where it is
now for the protection of Hawaii and
the west coast. Thus, even though the
Japanese feet may not be called into
action, seemingly threatening attitude
of that force might compel the admins
tration to maintain our striking force in
tact in the Pacific.
There is no question that Berlin does
not believe that the United States, now
Evening star., 1941-03-16

that the lease-lend bill has passed, will
confne its support merely to sending
war material when it is available. The
Germans are realistic and feel, rightly
or wrongly, that we may have become
realists, too. And the stark reality is
that Britain, in order to survive, must
be helped with everything the United
States has available now.
Berlin knows undoubtedly that the
British air force has made tremendous
strides in the last few months and that
it will be able to fight back harder than
ever before. But Berlin also knows that
the British commitments in the Medi-
terranean and the defense of the British
coast will require every available British
naval unit.
In the meantime, the German organi-
cations in South America and particu-
larly in Brazil may be ordered to pre-
pare themselves for M-day. These Ger
manhattan outfits, far better organized
as military units than the fifth columns
which worked in Europe, have been as
signed the task of creating trouble in
the provinces and waging war of nerves
in the key South American republics.
South American Problem.
Despite the increased military pre-
paredness of these South American gov
ernments, the existing forces will have
difficult time coping with well-organ-
lied guerrillas. An adequate air force
could do lot in Brazil, but the military
aviation in that country, as in most
others, is in its infancy.
Berlin reckons that in the event of
serious disturbances there will be an
sos call to Washington from the gov
ernments whose existence is threatened.
America may not only be invited but
urged to send forces to the Southern
Hemisphere to quell rebellionS. Berlin
is said to count on their excellent mill
tant organizations to force the United
States to divert its forces-especially the
air arm-to the republics which will be
threatened from the inside by the NaziS.
And even though the action of the NaZi-
Fascist units may not be successful in
overthrowing the existing governments,
they might be sufficiently strong to COM
pei the administration in Washington to
rush to their assistance.
These are believed, in well-informed
quarters here, to be the plans laid by
Berlin as an answer to the lease-land
bill. OF course, the situation would not
have changed materially had the United
States decided to remain an impassive
spectator of Britain's defeat. The plan
of using Japan and the organizations in
South America to keep America "in line"
has been known here for many months.
The passage Of the lease-lend bill may
have only quickened the pace and COM
PEELED the Fuehrer to use that trump
card earlier, and less advantageously.
than was intended st first.
Evening star., 1941-03-16

Cvetkovic and Foreign Minister Ak
sander Cmcar- -Markovic would fly to the
German capital. But when midnight
came they still were in Yugoslavia.
Yugoslavia is a large country. By
threats and military display Germany
has taken over Rumania and Bulgaria,
Yugoslavias neighbors, without a battle.
Greece is now at grips with the FascistS
The strategy of war at this point directs
Hitler toward battle in Southeastern Eu-
rope, with Greece and Turkey, and
through them the Eastern Mediterranean,
as the German objectives. The strategy
of battle calls for German control of all
terrain north of Greece. The axis ap-
parently means to pour its troops into
Greece as from funnel There can
be no funnel until Yugoslavia is in the
German pocket.
Germany wants Belgrade to sign a
three-power pact that would open Yugo-
slavia TO the axis soldiers. Belgrade
offers compromises. Berlin wants no
compromises.
The Albanian phase of the Greek war
continues to go badly for the Italians,
who never meant that there should be
an Albanian phase. The Italians thought
that all the fighting would be in Greece.
Mussolini, II Duce in person, visited his
troops in Albania last week and gave
his generals until yesterday to do some
thing They have not done it, although
Mussolini tried to bolster his mems
morale by ordering ferocious attacks
against Greek lines over 12-mile sector.
In four days of bloody fighting the
Greeks reported they smashed this at
temOted offensive
Evening star., 1941-03-16

dark to see whether the German war
ship was sunk, but said she ceased firing
after the torpedo exploded The Ad-
miralty announced also-without giving
a date or exact location-that a British
submarine had torpedoed and sunk
heavily y-laden italian troop transport"
in the Mediterranean.
Evening star., 1941-03-16

will actually be made is uncertain. Yet
a survey of the situation shows it to be
possible, and the prize would certainly
be a valuable one, with momentous re-
suits both in the clinching of Britains
Mediterranean mastery and in the dis
integration of Fascist Italy itself. AS
such, it should be watched for as one of
the wars most interesting potentialities.
Evening star., 1941-03-16
and Greece Garry On With New Determination U Speeds Supplies

female, will be drafted for agricultural
labor.
Evening star., 1941-03-16

Japan will say her word.
1t is for this that Matsuoka
is coming to Berlin and
Rome" What can Japan