The Wilmington morning star., 1943-04-03
Inside Washington
By CHARLES P. STEWART

Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia of New York
probably may be an ex-mayor very soon. He
is likely to wind up tolerably high-ranking
American Army officer, on duty in North
Africa.
Fiorello is trifle old to be making fresh
start on a military career He was with
the Air Force during the last war, but today
he is bit past 61 which is not overly elderly
for a civilian, but which generally rates as
approa ching the retirement age for active
fighters.
Real scrapping is what he wants hand in,
however, and the story is that very exalted
authority tipped the proper officials off not
to cavil over a matter of a couple of decades
in his particular case.
Upon the first intimation that Gotham S
chef executive was anxious for a wartime
post, it was suggested in Washington that an
administrative job, such as the dictatorship
of some alphabetical set-up or other would be
best fitted for him.
LaGuardla soon made it clear, though, that
a fighting job was the article he was in the
market for. Furthermore, little consider
alton convinced the administration that he
possesses characteristics that may make him
more valuable on the firing line than in an
office in the capital
1t hardly will be necessary to remind any,
one that Mayor LaGuardia, though born in
this country, was born of Italian parents, and
if ever there was a native of the peninsula
with more Italian characteristics than he has,
it would require thorough investigation by
Diogenes to locate him. LaGuardia looks the
part to perfection, he speaks the Italian Ian
guage as well as he speaks English, and in
comprehension of the Latin mentality, it is
his own, completely.
LaGuardia is as good an American as ever
lived on Manhattan island, as ever represented
one of its districts in congress or as ever
presided in its mayoralty office. Yet if he
had first seen the light in Italy, he could not
have been any more thoroughly Italian He
is high type, too. His kinfolk in Italy as
well as America are mighty proud of him.
Now, the Italians, as is well known, are
utterly fed up with the Axis.
Benito Mussolini and a handful of his i'm
mediate followers got them into it. They did
not like the Nazis to begin with Now they
regard themselves as virtual slaves of der
Fuehrer. Given half a chance it is well
recognized that they would not only quit the
Axis in a minute, but perh..ps flop actively
over to the United Nations side.
But they do need leadership.
And who could be more suitable to furnish
them with it than Fiorello H. LaGuardia?
True, he could not manage it as director
OF some civilian bureau in Washington. He
would be in a first class position to do it.
IlouSH, LII CoI1lI1dnQ OIL SlZaDle force of
Americans in Italian North Africa.
1t would not be surprising if the Italian
troops in that area were to 60 over to him
bodily. I mean that. They have not turned
out, there or elsewhere, to be formidable
warriors for the Axis, but that was because
they have hated their partners
Those Italian troops are very creditable cam
paigners in cause that they are in sympathy
with. Naturally they would have to have sup
plies from ourselves and Britain, but they
would be serviceable and highly welcome ad-
dltlonal fighting manpoWer.
1t could mean Mussolinis overthrow!
Besides, the encoura cement to the Free
French and to all the rest of over-run Europe
would be tremendous.
The Germans own morale would be ant
to suffer.
incidentally, when the Axis is beaten, it
has been mentioned that the democracies will
have to do considerable administrative work
upon their various soils to reorganize them
into state of civilization. For this task
there could not possibly be, SO far as Italy is
concerned, more appropriate individual than
Fiorello LaGuardia It would be wonderful
to see Fiorello LaGuardia succeed Benito Mus
solini.