The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1944-03-23
Anti Fdsdsts in Italy
Lack Uniform Program
Immediate Circumstances Necessitate Allied
Cooperation With King and BadoglIo
As Leaders of Only Unified Group.
BY BAUKHAGE
Nt,Cs analyst and Commentator.

Another point Churchill made
should be noted for later comment:
Should we succeed in the present
battle and enter Rome-as l trust
and believe we shall-we shall be
free to review the whole Italian po-
litical position and we shall do so
with many advantages which we DO
not possess at the present time
One more Churchill quote before I
try to present the American view
point:
II should be sorry, however, to
see an unsettling change made at a
time when the battle is at its cli-
max, swaying to and fro. When you
have to hold a hot coffee pot, it is
better not to break off the handle
until you IRE sure that you can get
another equally convenient and serv-
iceable. or at least that you will find
a dishcloth handy"
So much for the shadowy outlines
Of the defense.
Let me give you now. from my
notebook, in the order in which I
took it down, the story as told to
me by one who ought to know
AT the Bari conference. there
were a number Of parties which
seemed to agree. but they failed to
offer a concrete program or n
that there was any firm guarantee
would receive unified support. In
war, we cannot guess, we must
know. There is no definitely estab-
lished leadership among the anti
Fascists.
I'VE know there is no future for
any leadership under the king and
Badoglio. But we must operate in
the present, not the future. At pres
ent, there is but one unified group,
small or large. loved or hated as it
may be, and that is the government
which surrendered to the Allies, un-
der King Victor Emmanuel.
Must Be Realists
I'VE have to be realists now,
and what is more, military realists.
AS Churchill said. what the Allies
need are Italians ready and able to
fight Germans. Such a group ex-
lists. Italians are fighting side by
side with Americans and British.
Although the Italian fleet has not
been called to action. it surrendered
without resistance. The Italian Off
lei on duty are still loyal to the
symbol (the king) to which they
made their oath. We are perfectly
willing, we are anxious, that they
choose a new democratic symbol.
But until they do get a new symbol
to which the majority of Italians can
adhere, we are not going to throw
away the old"
(Churchill's coffee pot.)
So much for what seems to be
the Allies viewpoint with my added
unofficial. but none-the-less I be-
lieve. authentic. Interpretation. But
there is something more that no Off
cial would dare whisper. 1t is the
problem which the Allies know they
are going to face in every re-occu'
pied country. Italy is a sample. Il
is something unpleasant but some
thing we must face.
I understand that the Italian peo
pie in the liberated regions have no
been inimical to the Americans. Blu
they are resentful. They are hun
cry. They cannot understand why
these strong young soldiers, WHIT
have freed them, do not feed them
The trucks 60 by loaded with mum
tons and supplies. Some food hal
been distributed. Not enough. tt
feed all the people would mean halt
ing military operations while thu
Germans made hay in the SUNSHINE
Of our charity.
The present Italian government
has still some discipline over tn
people; it is brutal, perhaps. but ef
fective. A new government whicl
really expressed the peoples will
today would have to demand food
would increase the pressure on tn
Allies for supplies that they canno
spare while they are fighting TO
their lives. That Is another real
istic, military reason for the polio,
of the Allies.
And, unfortunately. that Is some
thing that the Allies can expect t
face as more and more Europeal
territory is liberated. The liberate
people cannot be blamed II resent
ment that they do not receive more
wipes out the gratitude for the mod.
cum that military men can spare
Armies cannot be idealistic.
And armies or governments 9
u,ar which s,fnnort them. cannr