The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-28

pied by German troops, as a large
part Of France is. Italy is said to
be occupied, however. by Adolf's
Gestapo. This secret police aggre-
CATION, under Herr Himmler's di-
rection, isn't as obvious as uni
formed troops are, in Paris and
Whereabouts, but apparently it's
Just as effective, and perhaps its
shopping linked with an occa-
sional rumored quiet ASSASSINATION
is even more aggravating than
above board domination by a
frankly military OUTFIT.
Pretty authoritative dope is to
the effect that Italians generally
fully realize what the real situa-
ton Is and don't like 1t bit. In
deed, reliable-looking reports indi-
cate that they're as ripe for an
anti-German revolt, II they thought
it would do 'em any good, as the
vanquished Poles undoubtedly are,
or the Scandinavians or the Low
Countries or. probably, the French.
How Benito feels can only be
guessed at. The guessing, though,
is that he's as sore as anybody
else. But what can he do?
Mussolini Puppet?
It seems he's we'll aware that he
holds his duce ship only upon
Adolfs sufferance, that Adolfs ex-
tremely tired Of his bungling, that
he only leaves him on the Job be-
cause it would be poor Axis psy-
chology to supplant him just now,
and that he'd 60 into the discard
in short order, even at that, unless
he's strictly good, from Adolfs
standpoint
Besides, Benito has his home
folk to reckon with.
He evidently knows that, de-
spite his censorship, Italy's widely
informed as to the hash he made
Of his African and Albanian Greek
campaigns, so long as he was run
ming 'em independently. Lately,
with Germans helping him, the
Axis has scored a few partial sue
cesses (Which he claims credit for)
in the Italian fields Of war. OF
course, for Italian consumption, he
points to EN- with pride. This may
rehabilitate his prestige a trihe
with some of his countrymen. New
ertheless:"he can't but appreciate
that he'd collapse again immedi-
ately, both in Africa and the Bal
kaRs, +i-i+theut- continued Maxi sup
port. So he simply HAS to hang
onto that. Otherwise, his duce-
ship would terminate in Jig time.
The Italians themselves would at
tend to it, or all Washington's in
formation sources are wrong.
Well, here's our Washington rea-
soners' argument:
Benito gives Herr Hitler a pain.
Yet Adolf can't get rid Of the chap
at today's juncture except very in
conviently to himself. Italy might
not rebel against Germany, but 1t
would hatten out, anyway.
Gestapo Control
Under existing circumstances,
the Gestapo can hold the Italians
in line, at least nominally. It
doesn't take a lot Of German
troops to do it. German secret po-
lice are sufficient for the task. And
secret police don't have to be as
numerous as troops have got to be,
to keep discomfort suppressed.
But Italy isn't consciously con-
quered. Definitely conquered peo-
Piles are different. They don't like
to STAY conquered. Gestapo
agents can sneak around among
'em and find out what they're
planning. quite likely, but they're
not numerous enough to stop any
thing II it actually starts. That
calls for soldiers, and plenty Of
'em.
Well, Poland, Norway. Holland
and Belgium are in that category.
So, to all intents and purposes, is
France. Ditto Denmark Yugo-
slavia,. and probably Greece, are in
process of being included. The rest