F the two important political announcements that have been made
this week, the declaration of war on Germany by Marshal Badoglio's Government is much less important than the arrangement
NEWS OF THE WEEK
reached between this country and Portugal regarding the use of the Azores as an Allied naval and air base. It is well to have the Italian situation completely clarified, but the clarification is likely to make little immediate practical difference, at any rate in Italy itself, where those Italians in liberated territory are doing all in their power to help the Allies and those in occupied territory can do little if they would. But the declaration may stiffen Italian troops in the Balkans, and the occasion it gives for a public association of Great Britain, the United States and Russia in enunciation of the Allied policy towards Italy is welcome ; so is Marshal Badoglio's renewed announcement that he proposes to broaden the basis of his adminis- tration as soon as possible by the inclusion of men of democratic principles like Count Sforza, who is now on this side of the Atlantic: As for the arrangement with Portugal, it is of an importance that can hardly be over-estimated. What it means primarily is that effective air-cover can now be given to Atlantic convoys throughout their voyage by land-based aircraft—from America, from Britain or I from the Azores—while escort-vessels will acquire a new base which will add substantially to their effectiveness. That makes it as certain as anything can be in warfare that Germany has finally lost -the submarine war ; she has completely and decisively lost the air-war on every front ; her navy still declines to show itself, and will decline all the more after what the Tirpitz ' has recently suffered under attack by British midget submarines. There are no reliable indica- tions about when the war will end. The indications how it will end are more numerous and more reliable every day. Meanwhile, Germany is losing hope at home and whatever prestige she still enjoyed abroad.
