TALK OF WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 276, 20 November 1926, Page 9

TALK OF WAR.

"STORM CLOUDS GATHERING.'' GERMAN VIEW OF FRANCE. TRIFLES PREVENTING PEACE. (By Cable—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, November 19. "France's war spirit is still unchecked, but Germans are resolved that no blame shall attach to the Fatherland for any future war," said Dr. Wirth, former German Chancellor dealing with the efforts of M. Briand (France) and Herr Stresemann (Germany) to secure a lasting peace.

"But storm clouds are gathering. | Trifles are delaying the work which was i begun by the Thoiry conversations," he continued, "namely the irreconcilability of the French Government and the fact that tlie French newspapers are magnifying insignificant disarmament details." According to the Cologne correspondent of the "Times," the reports of a desire on the part of the two Foreign Ministers to achieve a lasting peace has j the support of German Republicans.

BAD ATTACK OF JUMPS.

TURKEY FEARS ITALY. LONDON, November 19. Newspaper opinion, reports the Constantinople correspondent of the "Daily News," is that Turkey is undergoing a periodic scare in connection with Italy's intentions and the Turkish Government has called upon reservists to enlist. It is presumed that the present alarm is based on the recent utterances of Signor Mussolini, Prime Minister of Italy. The "Daily News" states that Turkey is now having a bad attack of jumps because she fears Fascism, wants to create a diversion. Signor Mussolini, at the opening of the sports stadium immediately prior to the recent attempt on his life, addressed a gathering of army officers when he wore the uniform of a commander of militia, rode on horseback into the vast arena and halted in the centre amid deafening cheers, which lasted for several mir.Tites. From his saddle he harangued the assembly, which punctuated his address with further cheers, especially his references to the King as supreme commander of the army and militia. He added: "To-day's ceremony is the crowning feature of the celebration of the Fascist march to Rome. It is unprecedented in character and significance, because it signifies that a people under arms is enthusiastically acquiescing in the Fascist regime, a people willing to follow mc everywhere. Fascism is now the civil religion of every Italian worthy of the name." Then, rising in his stirrups, the Prime Minister exclaimed: "Black Shirts, raise aloft your rifles. Let the world see this forest ] of bayonets and feel the beating of your hearts, which are resolute and invincible."

SEED OF NEW WAR 7 j

SYRIAN MANDATE. FRANCE WANTS TO QUIT. PARIS, November 11. The French Cabinet ha a drafted a bill for presentation to Parliament providing for the return of the Syrian mandate to the League of Nations. It is understood that this is the first step in the plan to transfer the mandate to Italy, to which course France, as well as Britain, has agreed. The Syrian leaders are reported to be willing to try the change of rulers on the ground that no nation's rule could be worse than France's. Complete failure to pacify Syria, and costly and bloody campaigns against the Druses, culminating in the French bombardment of Damascus, have been fca- ! tures of the French rule. { Italy, whose dreams of conquest and i exploitation lie chiefly in Asia Minor, is ' ready to step into Syria, possibly with ; tl'.e idea of provoking a conflict with Turkey. ! In any case, Italy's presence in Syria, ! assuming the present plan is carried out, ' will certainly pivc rise to friction be- I tween Italy and Turkey. Leading Fascists for some time past openly boasted of their country's ■ conflict with Turkey for the possession of Asia Minor.