Henderson daily dispatch., 1943-09-09
Italy Surrenders

y
However much ltaly's surrender
may nave been anticipated. joy over
The actual development vas not
m!nmIzcd IN the least following
General t.iScnhowcr'S announcement,
Wednesday. The even; was Gorsccn
and WAS Inevitable the d Nusso-
l!nl resigned and passed INTO obi
WON: not 50 much because Of II
Ducc'S act itself but because of
weakness and war WEAKNESS that
lay behind his Self-cllaccmcnt.
The Surging Tide of optimism th.t
has prevailed in all Allied lands in
the past several months is hcightcn-
cd by the yielding of he former
fascist state. There is danger in the
situation, though, in that ovcr-cou-
fidcnce nigh; prove disastrous, or
al least damaging, 10 the United NJ
tons cause. y flood OF warnings
that long and hard fighting lies
ahead may be expected from high
quarters. And short of equalization
by the Germans. which is no; now
in sight. th.t is abundantly. if I'M
fortunately and tragically. true II j.
certainly true as to difficulties, if
not as 20 duration.
ltaly'S surrender will bring with
it Il host OF weigh;y responsibilities
as we'll as advantages. For one thing.
food will have to be supplied 10
half-starvcd nation. drained by the
NaZis of such materials as they
wished and could use. The Germans
Will have TO be elected from Italian
soil, or at least that part which vii!
be occupied. Orderly government
mus: be established. responsible al
ways and everywhere to the Allied
command.
On the other hand. bases of ope-
ration nearer to the German father
land han have been available at any
time before will be obtained. These
VIII be utilized in bringing death
and destruction to the Reich in more
force and with greater speed than
has been possible hitherto, and this
will wear down enemy morale at
home and hasten his ultimate capt.
ulatiOn.
The Allies will acquire. as part
OF the terms of unconditional sur
render, facilities that will make
easier than ever an invasion Of sou
thcrn France. or Of Axis Balkan
territories. If Hitler has had the lit
tcrs before, he may develop apo
plcXy. or even insanity. now.
Another consequence of Italy's
surrender will be the psychological
effect upon Hitlcr's satellites as Bull
garia. Rumania and Hungary. Their
people would also like TO be free Of
the Nazi yoke. and may be expected
10 manifest their feelings without
delay in no uncertain manner. Tn
rest in those countries. particularly
Bulgaria. has been rumorcd for
months. 1t may come into the open
as a sequence TO the death Of King
Boris and Badoglio's capitula;ion.
The horizon is dark for Hitler and
his gang of murdcrcrs. With his
partners deserving him like rats from
sinking ship. and with rebellion
in occupied lands held down solely
with an iron hand, there is no escape
for the Nazi dictators. They can only
hope to delay the inevitable.
II has been suggested that tho
Germans will Withdraw into the
shell of their own country and car
ry on a defensive war. That would
merely narrow the Allied field ot
operations and would enable then
TO concentrate as never before upon
their objective. Such course could
have but one ending. if they elected
TO go so far. and that would be an
inhalation of their principal ciic.
by bombings and destruction o.
countless thousands Of their citizens
While long and bloody struggle
may lie ahead. it will not be prolong-
ed, but rather shortened, by Italy!
surrender. At the saRe time. the
psychology of the situation may Sc
trey upon The Germans tha' ihel