ITALY TO CALL UP MORE RESERVISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 21, 26 January 1939, Page 11

ITALY TO CALL UP MORE RESERVISTS.

DRAMATIC MOVE. "Perilously Close to Act Of Aggression." WHITEHALL SHOCKED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12 noon.) LOXDOX, January 25. It is officially announced in Rome that 60,000 of 'the 1901 class of reservists are being called up on February 1. Router's Rome correspondent reports that 30,000 regulars are concentrated at Genoa and Spezia in readiness to go to ispain at a moment's notice in the event ot French troops crossing the frontier. The Associated Press says Whitehall is shocked by the news of Italy's recall of reservists, for which there seems no reasonable explanation. ~ 11 ,s stated that France must regard the recall as perilously close to an act of agression. The class called up, according to official information, is mainly business men, upon whom Italy is hardly likely to call unless she is envisaging a major crisis. It is suggested that Italy's sudden translation of threats into action explains Dr. Schacht's removal from the presidency of the Reichsbank. Italy's economic position would not enable her to launch a war unaided and it was certain that Dr. Schacht did not consider that Germany's portion justified the assurance of assistance to Italy. "The Times" Paris correspondent says the calling up of the Italian reservists has intensified the uneasy belief that Barcelona's fall will be the signal for a diplomatic offensive by Italy against France. It is officially denied from Rome that large-scale military activity is under way, but it is admitted that some of the older classes of men who did not serve in the world war have been partially recalled for special training. The Italian newspapers are concentrating upon Spain, and all declare Barcelona's fate is sealed. They again accuse France of helping the Loyalists. A message from Rome says the "Informazione Diplomatica," which is closely in touch with the Foreign Office, declares that French fears regarding Italian volunteers in the Pyrenees are excessive. It warns France that any further Russian or French intervention will force Italy to resume liberty of action.