-5-                             
 
                           me?"                             
 
                                                            
 
 
Half an hour later Mackensen was at the house of Clang and   
together they went to see Mussolini. Mackensen immediately delivered the   
message, quoting: "In the night at five o'clock German troops will be   
disembarking in Norway and will also at the same hour occupy the frontier   
of Denmark. 'The Fuhrer' wished the Duce to be informed at once." Maybe   
the landing-operations had already commenced 'at the very moment when   
Mackensen delivered his message. Mussolini received the news with an   
outburst of enthusiam~. "Splendid", he cried, "that is the way to make   
war'." And he instructed Mackensen to express his congratulations and   
admiration to the Fuhrer. But - the following days, as the German   
undertaking seemed to be developing in their favour, Mussolini became more   
and more discontented and nervous. He was tormented by a foolish envy, due   
to Hitler's "Glory". And at last, when the German victory seemed sure, he  
 wired the Italian Ambassador in Berlin Attolice, and ordered him to visit   
Hitler and advise him, in the name of Mussolini, to content himself with   
the victory in Norway and avoid fur:thor attacks in the West. He   
considered himself the man to give such advice to Hitler| Aad he thought   
   that Hitler would ever listen to similar suggestions|    
 
                                                            
 
 
 The latter sent Mussolini a courteous reply - and continued on   
his own way. Meanwhile Mussolini no more hesitated, but marched stubbornly   
towards war. The efforts, which had been made from various parties to   
prevent him from entering into war, were all in vain, and had no other   
effect upon him, than to rouse his stubborn contradiction. The French   
were received by him with disregard. In exchange for the Ita