Evening star., 1943-09-04

unconditional surrender of the Ital-
ian forces.
1t is believed here that the Allies
undertook their invasion with the
hope that the second of these alter
native developments will materialize.
For many weeks there have been
conversations in neutral capitals
concerning the plight of the Bado-
Clio government-how it could not
extric ate itself from German
clutches just now. From all these
conversations it doubtless became
clear that the King and Premier Of
Italy preferred to have the Allies
take the initiative in Southern Italy
rather than to take the risks Incl
dent to ordering the italian Army
not to resist landing in the vicinity
of Naples or further north where
Axis forces have become so inter-
woven and intermingled in the mill
tary situation that it would be diff
ficult for the Badoglio government
to assure the Allies against resist
ance.
Mechanism for Surrender.
In short, unconditional surrender
has been in part delayed by the
way the Axis forces are deployed in
side Italy. The landings on the.
mainland will accelerate the capit-
ulation If the Badoglio government
Is bent on taking Italy out of the
war. 1t is reported also that the
Italians feel that military surren-
der is not as ignomious as straight
out capitulation by the Premier and
the King, especially if in later
months or years the House of Sa-
voy, for instance, is to be saddled
with the political onuS of ordering
the army to surrender.
So while these internal complica-
tions may not be understood on this
side of the Atlantic, there is every
reason to believe the Allied landings
will provide the mechanism for sur
render of the Italian army and
navy if that be the real desire of
the Italian government.
There is always the chance of
trickerx. But the Allies are pro-
tected now against that outcome by
sending in sufficient forces to oc-
cupy the southern part of the coun-
try, and it may be that Allied forces
will also land soon in northern
points to cut off retreat by the Axis
troops.
Wherever there are German divi-
sions, there will, of course, be fierce
fighting, as Hitler is doubtless play
ing for time. 1t is suspected here
that he is withdrawing many divi-
sions from the Russian front and
that it is intended to carry on
slow retreat toward the German
border in the hope that the Rus
slams will be content also to assume
a defensive position while trying to
consolidate their gains.
Strategy Will Unfold.
Plainly, big events are happening
In the military theaters, and in
few weeks the whole strategy of
both sides will be unfolded. When
that time comes, it is confidently
assumed here that Badoglio will
have taken Italy out of the war and
that OUR occupying forces will be
able to begin the repair of airf1elds
from which our bonbers can strike
closer to the heart of German and
Austrian war production.
Meanwhile, it is possible that in
vasion operations may be begun in
Sardinia looking toward an ap-
proach to Southern France and that
likewise an invasion of Greek is
lands, including Crete, may be in
the off1ng The wisdom of the cam
paign which led to the expulsion OF
Axis power from North Africa and
the attainment of complete mas
terry of the Mediterranean by naval
and air power is every day being
corroborated.
Certainly, as the fifth year of
war begins, the German people must
be beginning to wonder when the
end will come and particularly how
long the needless sacrifice of their
sons must go on.
The continued presence of Prime
Minister Churchill in Washington is
being construed to mean that our
President and the Prime Minister
feel that impending developments
require them to be in conference so
as to make important decisions
growing out of Italy's possible with
drawal from the war-an event that
may come suddenly.
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