‘It’s Eisenhower’s story,’ White House comments
Washington (UP) –
President Roosevelt kept silent today on the capitulation of Italy, feeling, the White House said, that “it is Gen. Eisenhower’s story – let him tell it.”
The President’s deference to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was made known by White House Secretary Stephen T. Early, who also revealed that Mr. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill were not in conference when the official news came from North Africa. The President was in his office at the time and Mr. Churchill in the White House proper.
The President may however refer to the capitulation in his radio address tonight opening the third war loan drive.
Secretary of State Cordell Hull declined immediate comment at his regular noonday press conference.
Planned at Casablanca
The surrender represented the culmination of brilliant operations conceived, in consultation with their staffs, by Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill in conferences begun here in December 1941 and climaxed, so far as the Mediterranean theater was concerned, in the historic meeting at Casablanca early this year.
That Italian unconditional surrender was imminent was surmised here because of Mr. Churchill’s prolonged stay in this country after the conclusion of the Québec Conference last month.
It appeared probable that the President and the Prime Minister had laid down the general terms of Italian capitulation – terms consonant with the “unconditional surrender” formula announced at Casablanca – but had left Gen. Eisenhower with a relatively free hand to deal with Italian offers.
Almost the first speculation after the news arrived here was that other of Germany’s satellite states will follow Italy’s suit, possibly in the near future. The example of Italy’s defeat, for example, might encourage Finland to make a separate peace with Soviet Russia, some sources believed.
In any event, the Italian disaster is bound to be received with great joy in the various conquered countries of Europe.
At the War Department, the news, packed with portents as the most tremendous single break in the Axis war front to date, was received with official silence for the time being.
Military observers, however, were quick to recognize the thus-far-unparalleled opportunities now opened up for the Allied forces under Gen. Eisenhower.
Known to be inevitable
It appeared likely that Italian capitulation had long been known to be inevitable and that the British 8th Army’s assault upon the toe of Italy was designed to spur Italian leaders to “surrender with honor.” It had been pointed out that the Italians could hardly be expected to give up until the homeland had been invaded.
War Department observers believed that the Italian surrender will lead to rapid occupation of at least a substantial portion of the Italian peninsula.
The Germans, however, may be expected to oppose complete Anglo-American domination of Italy. There have been indications that they will undertake to hold a line somewhere in northern Italy, despite the collapse of their erstwhile allies.
Po Valley stand likely
The Germans may try to hold the Po River Valley and may attempt to establish a line in the Apennine Mountains across Italy in the region of Florence. European sources have recently reported the withdrawal of German forces into northern Italy.
In addition to giving the Allies a tremendous advantage in land and air fighting, the Italian surrender will remove the last potential threat – inherent in continued existence of the Italian fleet as a fighting force – to Allied domination of the Mediterranean. The fleet comprises about 190 vessels, of which, however, by no means are all fit for sea duty.
The surrender also appeared to advance the day of all-out continental operations against Germany itself. Gen. George C. Marshall, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, and Adm. Ernest J. King, Chief of Naval Operations, were in the White House when the news from North Africa arrived.
Hopkins hurries in
At about the same time, Harry Hopkins, the President’s right-hand man, hurried into the building. High-ranking British staff officers were also present, as was Elmer Davis, director of the Office of War Information.
Some sources believed the impending announcement of Italian collapse may have been the progress to which President Roosevelt alluded yesterday in referring to the prospects of a meeting between him, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and Mr. Churchill. With Italy out of the way, it was pointed out, the hour when forces of all three nations will be pressing against Germany would appear to be closer.
The Italian collapse brought to the fore again the question of Benito Mussolini’s whereabouts and the question of his surrender, as a war criminal, to the United Nations. The United States, Great Britain, and Russia have warned neutral nations not to give sanctuary to Mussolini or other Axis leaders. Whether the terms of Italian surrender dealt with the fate of the erstwhile Fascist dictator was not known.
Has army in Balkans
Another question yet to be resolved, it would appear, is the destiny of Italian troops in the Balkans, where thousands of them had been on Axis policy duty, and of such Italian forces as may have been engaged against Russia. The Germans, it seemed likely, will attempt to disarm any Italian soldiers now willing to go on fighting now that their mother country has cried quits.
In Greece and Yugoslavia, guerilla patriots may be expected to rally against their enemies with renewed fury. Yugoslav Ambassador Konstantin Fotić said Italy’s surrender means that “the day of Yugoslavia’s liberation approaches.” The news, he said, will electrify into action 300,000 Yugoslav patriots who have been waiting for this moment.
To get bases
Possession of southern and central Italy will give the Allies bases for invasion of the Balkans and for intensification of the air war against Germany. The Allied bomber line, observers pointed out, will be much closer to German home industries and resources.
Recent authoritative estimates place the number of Italian divisions in the Balkans at from 22 to 30. Axis forces in Europe all told were estimated at around 300 German divisions, 70 Italian divisions and 80 divisions of various satellite countries. Thus, the defection of Italy will represent a loss of about 15% of Axis manpower.
Nazis hurled back
The collapse of Italian resistance comes at a time when German forces are being hurled back over a long front from Smolensk to the Sea of Azov, and Allied offensive action throughout the Pacific and Far East is mounting. The psychological effect on the Nazi will to resist may well be profound.
Meanwhile, President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill were believed to be awaiting word from Stalin as to whether, in the light of new events, he will be able to meet with them.
Buenos Aires, Argentina –
Blaring sirens of the newspaper La Prensa and La Nación, which hadn’t been blown since Pearl Harbor, announced the fall of Italy today.