The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-23
. NATIONAL
 SPOTLIGHT
BY THOMAS M. JOHNSON (NEA Democrat Military Writer)


 ambassadors to Italy and the vati- can, William Phillips and Myron O. Taylor, against a background of re- ports of low morale in Italy. And 1t is more than just talk.
 American Italians have been working to prepare the way for an invasion of Italy by an Army of Liberation" not only British but Free Italian. Such a stroke, if suc- cessful, might take Italy out of the war as an ally of Germany and rally many Italians to install dem- ocretie government which would turn Italy against the Nazis.
 Propaganda is being ir1sinuated into Italy by several groups, notably the Mazzini Society. This organ- ization of freedom loving Italian Americans has gone unnoticed amid talk of Fascist sentiment among Ttalian-Americans, yet 1t has branches in New York, Boston, Chi cago, California and fifty other Italian centers, and in Canada and Argentina. Its members here are hand-picked American citizens; no Communists or Fascists need apply, only Italian Americans burning to restore to their country the liberal ideas of the 18th century Risorgi- mento that united Italy. That is the keynote of the Mazzini Society's broadcasts and pamphlets smuggled into Italy.
 SICILIAN
 BLOOD BOTLS
 Despite Fascist propaganda, most Italians admire and respect the United States with a cordiality that increase with the aggressions of Nazis, whom they hate. Such Ital- fans are sending to America reports that 1talys state is even worse than news dispatches have indicated. Defeatism abounds. Mussolini is widely blamed for having got the country into an unnecessary war while he has lost to Hitler. Even the Fascist party bosses are split; there is Fire Mussolinil" fac- ton. Some reports say two at tempts have been made on his life. One informant has seen some of Mussolinis own secret police lis- tening to British and Free Italian broadcasts.
 German penetration has aroused fury, especially in Sicily, the Nazi base for operations in North Africa. Sicilian blood is bailing. The is- flanders food is bad, bread adul- terated, meat mostly horseflesh and rationed, as is wine "a un- heard-of outrage. Even movies are German. Sentiment rises for Sicilian autonomy, famed by the famous secret society, the Mafia, which Mussolini boasted he had suppressed.
 For help Sicilians look across the Mediterranean to the British, always popular in the lovely island. The nearest large British force, in North Africa, is now 750 miles away. But that distance would be shortened if the British could again advance westward in Libya as they did last year. The desert campaigning season is about to reopen, with the British rein forced from South Africa and India, and from America with planes and especially tanks be- lieved to be superior to the Ger man tanks that stopped General Wavell'S last try.
 PRISONERS JOIN
 FREE ITALIANS
 If the British drive close enough to Sicily to use Malta as a stepping stone, not only planes and tanks but troops might come from America, and through Italian American efforts. A Free-Italian army begins to take shape. Tn Canada officers and men are gath ering, including volunteers from the U. S.
 There has been no publicity for this crusade, nor for its counter part on the other side of the world I Tn India are most of the nearly 100000 Italian prisoners taken by the British. Among them enthuSi- asn for Q Free Italy is being spread by Italian American men1- bers of the Mazzini Society, new ly-arrived in India to recruit vol unteers to the Army of Liberation They report very good results tr- deed. Free Italian parachutistt have already landed In Italy, al- though that meant death if they were caught. All Free Italians are eager not only to free Italy from the yoke of FaScism and the Ges' tapo, but to show the world that in such a cause, Italians will fight not run away or surrender.
 Italian Americans In New York and elsewhere are optimistic oI success. They believe British. Free Italian invasion of Sicily would be an excellent diversion forcing the Nazis to withdraw troops from the Russion front tt defend" Italy. They believe alst that the sight of more of the hated Germans walking in on then would further infuriate the Ital. fans and might even help precipi' tate revolt. Unlike the Czechs Poles and others, the Italians stil have arms. Italians here hope Jht revolt would spread to the Italian Navy, where there is considerable pro- British sentiment = born part. ly of reluctant admiration.
 To be ready for even the possi' bility of such events, although thel realize the efforts and difficultie: involved, democratic Italians al forming a Free Italian govern ment-in-exile in which former foreign minister Count Carlo Sfor. 1o Yr0ioht he a leader