Evening star., 1943-07-26

as they conferred behind cur
leadership that should rally the
great mass of Italians.
I'VE must stand against those who
have wounded the sacred soil of
Italy," says the Kings proclama
ton, countersigneG by Badoglio as
premier.
1t is possible that Badoglio thinks
he can defend the Italian mainland
but it hardly is probable that such
soldier. famed as good strategist
conscious that Italy is weak and nc
lover of the Germans, should hope
that Italy can stand against the
Allied world.
May Delay to Aid Nazis.
Peace certainly is in the minds OF
the King and Baooglio as it must
be ip the .:2inds Of italian millions
Hoping to get an honorable peace
and good terms, Italy must fight on
a little longer.
The King and his new premier
know that Allied terms are 'uncon-
dltlonal surrender" They know also
that the Allies have almost a friend
ly attitude toward Italy, stripped OF
Fascists, and they must realize that
the Americans would see that they
got good treatment and that "un-
conditional" terms probably would be
better than any conditions a defeat
ed country could negotiate.
Italy, however, is obliged to fight
on for a time because of the Ger
mans. Hitler's men are in the coun-
try and they are strong. Driven
from Sicily, the Germans may elect
to defend line across Northern
Italy if they do rot withdraw en-
tlrely. Merely to play fair with their
ally, the King and Badoglio would
give the Germans time to establish
themselves at northern barrier
probably hoping that Hitler will
choose the Alps and leave Italv to
the Italians and their friends. the
allied enemy.
On Thursday Mussolini, if still
allVe, will be go. Out at his Wills
Iorlonla, guarded by Black Shirts
IL Will be sad birthday for the mar
who brought disaster on his coun.
try. His Fascism would have at.
talned its majority next October %
1t isn't likely to come of age and il
may die so gradually that it never
will have funeral. With Mussolin,
gone there may be some upstairs
seeking to hold or seize power but
Badogllo would give them short
shrift.
Fascism's Roots Are Deep.
Mussolini set up a plan for a sue
cessor but the plan doubtless went
out the window as its maker fieura.
lively was tossed out of that beauti.
full Palazzo Venezia.
Fascism certainly has deep roots
The babies of 1922 are soldiers to.
day. AS Romulus who founded
Rome and his twin brother Remus
sucked their strength from a she
wolf, so have the young Fascist.
been fed, physically and mentally
the doctrine of a daring life. abso.
lutte obedience to II Duce and thu
greatness of Italy. Romulus killed
Remus, his brother. and probably
Mussolini has killed Fascism, hi.
twin.
In this doctrine of late years
however. respect for the King ane
recognition of the Church of Rom,
have had their places. The Kins
appeared with Mussolini, publicl,
supported him but it never was an,
secret that the King merely made
the best of things and sought t,
keep Italy united. Now that he i
King again, he and Badoglio hav,
to deal with a Fascism which no
only has lost it's chief but seen hin
go out in disgrace, in defeat ant
without the fighting spirit HI
preached to his cohorts. Having
chopped off the head. the King anc
Badoglio should not have too much
trouble disposing of the body.
Something of Fascism may re.
main for there are roads. bridges
buildings, and great areas of re.
claimed marshes as physica
heritage. There also is familiarity
with discipline which the new chief.
may utilize. The political structure
Of Fascism doubtless will be con.
verted eventually, but so thoroughly
were laws and public systems made
over by Mussolini that whole new
governmental organization must bt
evolved; or the system itself might
be transformed by new spirit OF
rather a revival of the old one which
was almost as democratic as re.
public.
Three other old leaders. all op.
posed to Fascism, still live. They are
Vittorio Orlando, 83 now. premier
during the Versailles Peace Con.
ference; FRANCISCO Nitti, IS, ardent
anti-Fascist, former premier, pos.
sibly prisoner in France, ane
Count Carlo Sforza. II, former min.
lister of foreign affairs who resigned
as Ambassador to France wher
Mussolini rose to power.
These old men NAV sooner o.
later gather about the King a.
counsellors in the task of remakins
Italy.
eYt Sunar Ratjon Stamn