ITALY'S ARMY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 18

ITALY'S ARMY.

RECENT MANOEUVRES. NO lon<;er meant as warning. ROME. One result of tlie improvement in relations between Britain and Italy, following on the Chamberlain-Mussolini letters, was the transformation of the character of the Italian military manoeuvres in Sicily. The manoeuvres have purposely been shorn of the political significance which had been attached to them. For instance, the invasion and partial occupation of Sicily by a foreign Mediterranean Power, and the subsequent defeat of the "enemy" advancing on Palermo—the chief event staged in the operations — was intended as a warning because such event was held to be within the bounds of possibility. Now every effort is being made to insist on the hypothetical character of the manoeuvres. Signor Mussolini's unexpectedly brief speech 011 landing in Sicily, his allusion to untimely aud absurd alarmist rumours, and inspired comment in all the newspapers are intended to prevent misleading interpretations. , The clement of make-believe was introduced in the first stage of the manoeuvres. The rehearsal of the foreign invasion was enacted only by the actual landing of skeleton detachments of bluejackets and infantry, while two divisions representing the invading army were marked on the coast where it was pretended they 'had landed. In Colonial Kit. The manoeuvres continued when the army corps representing the national army started to advance towards the invading army, which had Palermo as objective. The great battle ended with the defeat of the invaders. The two divisions forming the invading army were equipped with colonial kit, as after the manoeuvres they were destined to sail for Lybia. This decision was not countermanded, but following the conclusion of the Mediterranean. Pact the strengthening of the Lybia garrison will probably be no longer deemed necessary.

Signor Mussolini, continuing his triumphal tour through Sicily, visited the town of Enna. He addressed the people, assuring them thnt the interests of their island, now the frontier of Italy's African empire, would not be neglected. King Victor. .Emmanuel, who watched the manoeuvres off Sicily from his yacht, received the Japanese Ambassador, Dr. Sugimura, and Admiral Koga, commanding the two Japanese cruisers now at Palermo. The King later returned the visit on board the Japanese tlagsliip Vuate. It is stated in semi-official quarters that the visits had no political significance and that there was equally no significance in the presence of the two Japanesfc cruisers, in which are 420 student officers. They were invited to watch the manoeuvres as an act of courtesy, admittedly influenced by the fact that Japan was the first Power to recognise the Italian conquest of Ethiopia.