Encimy propaganda is a never-taling source of amusement, and the latest effort, which they have put forward prove to be no exception forthe rule. Twus, according toa German message from Rome, quarters' there stated on Saturday that in the Mediterranean and. North Attica the "British. were obviously trying 0 art major offensives in numerous places" "The eduction of Sidi Barrani, and Hardie, toge= ther with the investment "of Tobruk are Spparently silempts to start major offensive, and. it may" be remarked that it the capture '2¢'60,000 prisoners and vast quentitis of Material "are merely the endeavours to start Fomething, it will be really interesting to see what will happen once they really get going. Goering while hasding out a few bushels of medals to miners declared that "despite British Talds, not a single armament factory" of Portance throughout the Teich had. been put ction, even if at this or that place ome ed. caused Yemporary disturbances" Goering is a stout fellow and ies stoutly, but Weis to be doubled whether he, would make that statement in the Ruhr district or. inthe Various Industrial towns where the RAL. have Inaicled widespread' damage and. reduced essential war production. Then again another message from Milan slates that Ttaly hea given 2 prize to be known as the "Trophy of Genoa {or competitions between Italy, Hungary" and Germany in footeal, swimming, track end field athletics and biesele racing. It is obviously Something in the mature of what lo vulgarly falled a Dutch gift, for with the turn of speed which Italy has been showing on land and sea the trophy should remain permanently Holian possession. Then of course there is the quaintly named German military commentator, Count von Stilltried, who has the following to sny abou the fall of Bardia: "The British advance "along the Libyan' cost came to a standstill on the frontier of Cyrenaica, after the British had merely recovered terrain lost by them previously as a result' of Marshal (Grazioni's "advance." It Is just that type of [standstill which has taken British troops past [Bardia and og far-west as Gazala all of which territory ig in Libya and obviously not, previously lost to Graziani by the British, Then of Bardia the worthy commentator continues "Thus one might say that the defender of Bardia, General Bergonzoll, fought a success-{fut delaying' action which enabled the Italian high command to reorganize its forces. General, Bergonzoll himself succeeded in. evading feature"" AM that need to be said about this rich piece of lying, is that if the Italians achieve only one or two more such actions they.wil have.suecesstully secured a complete and utter "defeat. General Bergonzoll did indeed evade capture simply by leaving his men. in the lurch. But finally "after much similar rigmarole he winds up with the following:—
Prestige successes in Africa may stimulate the moral of the British people, but will not in the least affect the general war situation, since the present war will be decided inthe North and hot in the Mediterranean, So at long last Count von Stilifried admits that after all the British and their -Allfes have been achieving successes in, Africa, successes which do nothing to help Italian moral which ig now ata remarkably low ebb. Fortunately it is noted that the Italian fashion industry has not been hampered by the war, and two big fashion shows are-to open in 'Turin and Milan en February 3. Amongst the—more notable exhibits it' is to be believed will be models in streamlined shorts, which the Greeks would probably like to copy in order to keep pace with the Italian "comeback" into Albania, In any event a couple of fashion shows ought to do wonders in the way of keep ing Italian spirits up, and should prove an inspiration to the Germans who have filtered, and are still Altering into Taly,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.