Evening star., 1943-06-10
ltuly's Fourth War Year

Today must be a bitterly tragic an
niversary for the Italian people. Just
three years ago, Mussolini deliber-
ately plunged his country into the
Second World War for the most
sordid motives. Abandoning a cal
culated neutrality from which Italy
had handsomely profited, II Duce
deemed the hour ripe to reap with
out cost some of the fruits of a
victory apparently won by Nazi Ger
many. France was hopelessly beaten
and Britain stood alone with its back
to the wall. Here, then, was his
chance to play jackal to Hitler and
grab at least a minor part of the
prospective spoils
So MuSsolini, to the frenzied
plaudits of his Blackshirt followers,
struck at helpless France with blow
which President Roosevelt aptly
described at the time as a stab in the
back. The Fascist dictator likewise
loosed his armies and fleets at con-
venient parts Of the British Empire,
then so lightly defended that he
considered them easy prey. Indeed,
II Duce's arrogance went SO far that,
when the Luftwaffe began it's air
blitz Of Britain. he asked Goering for
the privilege" of sharing in the
bombardment of London.
But the Duce's hour of triumph
proved to be as short as it was pre-
mature. Less than four months later,
his first venture against Britain's
"crumbling' empire, an invasion of
Egypt from Italian Libya, was hu-
miliatingly smashed by British forces
much smaller than his own. And,
as the year 1910 neared its close,
Nemesis spoke through the mouth
of Winston Churchill, warning Mus
sollni and his deluded people that
the defeat in Libya was only the first
chapter in a sombre tale wherein
I'VE are tearing, and will continue to
tear, your empire to shreds."
Never was there truer prophecy!
The year 1941 saw the loss of Italy's
ill-gotten and recently conquered
realm of Ethiopia, together with its
older colonies Of Eritrea and Somali-
land, while Libya was temporarily
saved only by the aid of the German
Rommel and his Afrika Korps. But
eventually, Libya, too, succumbed.
Today, the whole of Italy's African
Empire, more than 100000 square
miles, is gone, at military cost of
some 100000 Italian and native
troops, plus much of a once power
full navy.
That, however, is only the begin
| ming of Italy's misfortunes. Drained
of manpoWer, short of everything,
harshly exploited by its German
partner, Italy has sunk to the level
OF humiliated, hopeless satellite of
its stronger accomplice in aggression.
The climax Of its woes obviously
nears as Allied airmen blast It's
cities and communications almost at
will while Allied fleets and armies
threaten the screen of outlying is
lands which partially shield the
peninsula itself from invasion.
This is the dismal situation and
still more dismal prospect which con-
fronts Italy as it enters it's fourth
year of war. However the war NAV
end, Italy has lost Continued resist
ance must bring intensified devasta-
tion by the Allies, while an ATTEMPTED
surrender may involve the vengeance
of its German partner. The Italian
people, debauched by two decades of
Fascism and punch drunk from
cumulative blows rained upon them,
seem numbed as they cover before
their impending doom. What may
follow their present mood cannot
confidently be predicted. Berserk
rage, wild revolt. or frenzied anarchy
are all possibilities. Yet, whatever
the elimination, it seemingly cannot
be long delayed. And it will certainly
spell tragedy.