Birthday

II Duce had expected to celebrate his 59th birthday in Egypt. When Tobruk fell he rushed through the air to North Africa to lead the victorious march into Alexandria. On the way. R.A.F. pilots knocked down a convoying plane, killing his personal chef and personal barber. Loss of the barber was not so bad, since II Duce is as bald as a monkey's bottom, but loss of the cook was dismal. Then Rommel was stopped, and there could be no triumphal procession.

II Duce hung around for a while, finally returned to Rome. There, last week, the usual greetings arrived from Adolf Hitler: "On the occasion of your birthday . . . Duce." It did seem that Herr Hitler might quit reminding him of it. In Rome the subject was not mentioned.

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