Evening star., 1943-09-10

latter are taken care OF by the COM
manders in the field and can be
changed on the spot. The making
of a policy of financial help to italy
Is of paramount Importance, because
1t will be an example of far-reaching
value. All European peoples, in
Guiding those inside Germany who
may believe as did millions of Ital-
ians that the war must come to an
end soon, will be impressed by the
nature of the Anglo American plans
for rehabilitation.
This is strain that was not un-
expected, but at the same time it
causes a revision in estimates Of
tonnage needed as we'll as of sup
plies. To give the Italian people
coal and oil and to bring food to
them after months and months Of
starvation is a gigantic task.
Vast Supplies Needed.
There are industries in Italy which
can be built up to produce from raw
materials sent from this hemisphere.
Unquestionably much shipping can
be saved by strengthening Italian
manufacturing plants. To make
Italy big base for our heavy bomb
ers and fighter planes, it will be
necessary to erect repair stations
and depots from which the air forces
can be supplied for the heavy at
tacks on Southern Germany, where
much of the Nazi war production is
concentrated.
The public generally has little ap-
probation of the vast stores of sup
plies that are needed for these
heavy bombing raids. Taking italian
territory this month of September
does not mean that we can begin
heavy raids from it in October. 1t
will require several weeks to get the
airfields in shape and the supplies
into italian bases, though much OF
this already is stored in North Afri-
can stations and has been ready for
weeks to be sent Immediately to
Sicily and the Italian mainland.
1t is important, of course, that Ger
tain civilian requirements should be
filled at once, so that the italian
people can feel the beneficial effects
of the liberation policy. This means
that Americans at home may have
to continue to observe certain re-
strictions on supply. But it also
means that, If italy is properly
treated, the chances of winning over
the Balkan states and starting the
crumbling process inside continental
Europe will be immeasurably i'm
proved.
One thing will have a profound
effect the announcement that
Italy's frontiers on the main penin-
sula will be respected. The Italians
want to be assured that their inde-
pendence and sovereignty will be
retained. Germany doubtless will
inadvertently assist in this, because,
as now appears, when the Nazis set
up puppet government in North
Italy, they are provoking the Italian
nation to declare war on Germany.
And if that happens, the Italian
people may ultimately find them
selves sitting inside the United Ma
tions as allies instead of a con-
quered people.
Look to Italian Labor.
For the honor of Italy, it may
we'll be that Italian leaders will
find it desirable to assist in every
way to drive the Nazis out of the
northern areas. The United Nations
will increase their military and eco
nomic assistance in accordance as
the Italian people demonstrate their
desire to rid their country of the
NaziS
A change in sides during war is
not unprecedented in world his
tory. 1t this instance, the Italian
historians may insist that the peo-
pie were in the hands of Mussolini,
the tyrant, and that when aided
by the libera ting armies they set
their arms against the Nazi in
vaders and with the help of the
Allies drove them out of the coun-
try,
The obedience of the Italian Navy
to the orders of the Badoglio gov
ernment is of immense value to the
Allied cause. The disinclination in
recent weeks of the italian Navy
to enter battle with the British and
American fleets may well be ex-
planned by the knowledge that il
the feet were kept intact it would
be an additional argument As to
Italy's help that would aid Italy
when the peace settlements were
reached
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