Evening star., 1943-09-09

Badoglio took Y
his post as Pre- David Lawrence.
mier, many high officials here who
knew his background felt that by one
means or another he would take
Italy out of the Axis partnership
They were not discouraged when de-
lays were encountered. Those who
knew his valiant record in the last
war against Germany felt that II
the way to an honorable termins-
ton fhostihties could be opened
up, he would follow that way.
To-day the elimination of most OF
Italy as hostile territory and the ac-
QUESTION of new areas for air bases
and for the use of seapower from
her many ports means that the
Mediterranean at last has come
under the complete control of the
Allies. 1t means that an invasion
of southern France has been made
possible and also the acquisition of
the Greek islands and possibly large
areas in the Balkans.
Prestige Is Incalculable.
The so-called soft underbelly of
Europe is crumbling and not only do
the peoples there who have been
under Hitlers domination know it,
but all over the world the news
Is the most effective propaganda
that could have been written. Latin
America now knows the tide of
battle is definitely in our favor.
Spain knows it, Denmark and
Sweden and Norway know it and
so do the peoples of Czechoslovakia.
Belgium, Holland, Greece, Poland
and France. Their capacity for up
rising will in due time be made
known. Hitler will need more di-
visions to police Europe than he can
afford to divert from the battle
fronts.
Fascist criminals, including Mus
solini himself, must now come into
Allied hands and be tried. The peo-
pie of Italy who have been under
nourished will find the liberating
armies of the Allies their friends.
The German divisions in the north
OF italy will discover they have all
around them a hostile population.
The prestige achieved by the
United Nations is incalculable. 1t
will be noted that Russia was con-
suited and concurred in the terms
of the armistice-thus demonstrat-
ing that the big three" can act in
unison and promptly when they
wish to do so. 1t may be suspected
that the propaganda issuing from
Moscow recently disparaging the
campaign in Italy may have been
political and that now there will be
less occasion for anyone to doubt
the wisdom of the strategy that
enabled us to land in North Africa
In November 1912, capture all of
the coast on the Mediterranean bv
midsummer 1s43, and bring about
the collapse Of Italy by September.
Welcome to Conquerors.
Such fighting as will 20 on in
Italy now will be engineered by
German divisions and German
agents who will attempt to prevent
the Allies from consolidating their
position but the friendliness of the
italian people is factor which no
German army of occupation has
been able to parallel in this war
America, Britain and Canada come
IN as conquerors, but they are truly
welcomed as they come.
Italy as a. base for further opera
tions will be extremely valuable be-
cause fields for fueling and repair
ing our big air bombers now will
be available nearer to Southern
Germany than ever before. But
the real gain is psychological, The
morale of the German people un-
ouestionably will be affected by the
news. The peoples of Europe are
the same under the skin-they sec
no sense in prolongation of the
war. II that idea seizes millions in
Central Europe, it can grow to panic
proportions and no amount OF
Gestapo coercion can keep down the
uprising when 1t does suddenly come
to the surface.
1t may be assumed however, that
the Nazis are busily engaged in tell
ing the German people that the
Allies cannot penetrate the inner
defense lines and that the Allies
plan the dismemberment of the
German nation and the enslavemeni
OF the people. The opportunity t.
erase such mistakes impressions b,
psychological warfare is at hand
The war can be shortened by reach
ing the peoples of Central Europe
Undoubtedly our fair treatment o
the italian people will become
demonstration of our good faith a
against any NaA misrepresenta
tons.
The surrender of Italy is a turn
ing point in the war which,
pressed to a military decision, Nigh
take all of 1914 and perhaps longe
but il the German people can b
persuaded to follow the Italian peo
pie in their clamor for an armistice
the war could end this year. Gu
chiefs of staff are hopeful of tn
breaks but not counting on them
The fact is the war will be pushe,
more relentlessly than ever befor
from now on.
tReproduction Rights Eeserved)