The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-05-18

acknowledge that they are shy 100000 agricultural workers for this springs planting.
 Tn this connection, there is good reason. to believe that Hitlers puzzling request to the reichstag for special powers, was due to pro- duction difficulties. In an almost frantic effort to speed up, the Nazis haev run into sabotage and form of showdown. Hitler spoke out against these elements to the reich stag.
 The strain on the Italian and German workers is beginning to show clearly.
 Food Grows Scarce
 Food becomes scarcer. Turnips and church bells are symbols of the present situation in Germany, which is better offthan Italy. The turnips are pressing potatoes as the main staple of diet just as they did in 1917 when German home morale began to sink. And the church bells began disappearing in March because they were needed for wea- pons, as they did in 1917.
 In addition, transportation Is go- ing down hill as rapidly as the la Dor shortage intensifies. Laborers are worn to the danger point by long hours and poor food and com petent sources reported that women have collapsed on the assembly lines while about 100000 man-days of work were lost daily due to ill., ness that could be described as just feeling low"
 The railroad system staggered through the winter under great diff faculties. With a lack of repairs ersatz parts, and improper lubrica- tion, the second-rate trains are in- capable of modern speed under heavy loads, although some 250,0OO cars and 5000 locomotives were taken from France. The RAF has done a great deal to increase these troubles by bombing the railroad centers again and again.
 All of these factors and the oVer- crowding of hospitals, hotels and private homes with wounded men from the Russian front have added to the swing of German psychology at home to the defensive.
 This was increased many times in both the Reich and Italy by the declaration of war against the Uni- ted States.
 The Italians don't like the Jap- anese and the Germans distrust the Japs almost as much as they dis trust Italians. The war against America is definitely unpopular with the Axis people. Tn Italy, this feel ing is openly indicated by express sions of respect for the United States. In Germany there were many who expressed regret that the step had been taken.
 But the people, especially the German people, have tremendous capacity for hardship and sacrifice and the breaking point definitely has not been reached. It is nearer in Italy, than in Germany, now ex- pressed mainly in war weariness and 8 hopeless attitude.
 The Axis propaganda machine under Dr. Joseph Goebbels is work ing furiously to keep up morale and the hope for victory. Goebbels' dif1l- culties are emphasized by the pres ent campaign to crack down on the black markets, to belittle American leadership and, most of all, to con- vince the German people that they must win the war or be destroyed.
 The new slogan victory at any price" has certainly not lifted the morale of a people already worried by the strength of the Red Army and American productive power.
 Hitler, MussOlini Danger
 Particularly interesting is the question of whether anything is likely to happen to Hitler and Mus solini
 Take Il Duce first: Things have already happened to him. His pres tige at home and in Germany is dropping rapidly. There is a split developing in the leadership of the party.
 The most powerful Fascist lead- ership group is becoming frightened that the rewards expected of Mus solini's stab in the back against France will be lost. Mussolini pro- tested to Hitler at one of their last meetings, that Italy's demands for French territory were not receiving much attention.
 The other group wants to go fur ther in attaching Italy to the Ger man machine. There were reports in responsible sources recently that one pro-German extremist group had been plotting to kidnap Mus solini and liquidate Foreign Minis ter Count Galeazzo Ciano in an ef- fort to put the nation even more completely under Nazi domination.
 There are many Italians who are opposed to the war with America that they say the people are ready to somersault to the side of the Uni ted Nations on the day American and British troops invade Italy.
 But it must be emphasized that this opposition has no leadership, that potential leaders are clapped into concentration camps as soon as they appear and that there is no possibility of an uprising as long as Mussolini is backed by Hitler's pow CT. The Italians know that an out break would merely bring more Ger man troops into Italy.
 As for Hitler, it is still impossible to see the beginning of an effective anti-NaI movement in Germany, but there is good evidence that pow erful group, reaching high into of- ficial quarters, is ready to take over If anything should happen to Hit Ter"
 ITALIAN TI.R0AT