40,000 ITALIANS HELPING FRANCO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 7

40,000 ITALIANS HELPING FRANCO.

ROME REPORT.

Bitter Propaganda on Issue Of Withdrawal. OUTBURST BY MUSSOLINI? T'n+fcrt Press Associa ttoe.— Copy right. (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, October 18. The "Daily Telegraph" says significance; is attached to Count Grandi's BUKgi'sUon for the withdrawal of equal numbers of foreign volunteers from Spain as the most reliable estimates show that tho proportion of foreigners fighting is tour to one in favour of General Franco. Hie forces, the paper states, include alxmt ho.OOO Italians in which are three regular divisions, and about 10,000 German technicians and Moors. On tile other hand the Republican International Brigade probably includes only ."1001l men who have had previous military training. A nipflsngu from Rome says the newspnpers assort that the Italian proposals will be maintained to the utmost. A message from Valencia, Spanish Government headquarters, says that commentators there scoff at Count Grandi's token of withdrawal an the foreign volunteers helping the Loyalists total nt most 15,000, compared with General Franco's 110,000. The rebel spokesman at Salamanca, protesting against reports that the French should occupy Minorca, declares that the Balearic Islands garrison is entirely Spanish, and their actions will not prejudice other Powers. An official announcement at Rome declares that absolutely fantastic figures, which are creating dangerous hysteria and war psychosis, have been given abroad regarding Italian volunteers in Spain. Accordingly it is advisable to state officially that the volunteers number about 40,000, including supply service*. "This is the truth and there is no fear of denials in any quarter. Valencia's volunteers number many more," the statement adds. The statement specifically refers to Mr. Lloyd George's speech yesterday, in which he said Herr Hitler and II Duce were sending 100,000 troops to Spain, as grave and scandalous in an ex-Premier, whose age should recommend care. It adds: "It is time these shameless manoeuvre* were ended, enabling a peaceful study of the situation. There are at present no illusions regarding the good faith of Italy's op[<onents." The statement caused a sensation in foreign diplomatic circles. Well-informed people detect II Duce's style in the bitterness of the outburst, preceding the new non-intervention meeting, although officials subsequently stated it was not intended to hinder the work of that committee. The Spanish Embassy in London, replying to the Rome statement, says the Loyalist Government has information that there are 110,000 Italians in Spain.