"NO PRIVATE" WAR"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 102, 1 May 1940, Page 7

"NO PRIVATE" WAR"

ITALIAN SITUATION. Attack Oti Yugoslavia With Nazi Aid Probability. WAR MIGHT EASILY SPREAD. LONDON, April 24. It is reiterated in London that there is "no room for a private war," and that any attempt by a third Power 'to carry war into another theatre would be swiftly followed by the inclusion of that theatre within the scope of general European hostilities. There is little doubt that, however much the Italian situation Ims eased, an attack 611 Yugoslavia with full German support cannot vet be discounted. The Allies are prepared for such an eventuality, and they would act instantly to meet the event. "Such a move is unlikely to serve Italian •interests/' says Captain C. B. Falls, military correspondent of "The Times." i "Italy is aware that the situation in the Mediterranean has not changed except to improve for the Allies, who, [after crippling the German Xavy, could increase their forces in that ocean. "Italy realises that England and France'bear her no enmity, but, on the contrary, she knows that plans drawn up last summer, when Anglo-Italian I hostilities seemed j)ossible, are still | valid. | "Although Italian newspapers are j being used for German purposes, it is [ most likely that Italy's aim is to assert ! herself and improve her position 011 the strategic chessboard. 1 "If a false conception of her own interests ever tempts Italy, to move against either Yugoslavia or Greece, Britain and France would not be turned from their path. "The German Army is so large that the diversion of troops to Norway is not likely seriously to affect its capacity for an offensive.in other quarters. All danger points must still be watched, for which reason the Allied attitude should more than ever be combined of boldness and wariness." • Spaniards Restive. How easily the war might spread is illustrated by the attitude in Spain, where, after three years of civil war, thousands arc practically starving. | Young Falangists (Spanish Fascists), out of loyalty and gratitude to Italy, would come in 011 her side. f Italo-German pressure remains strong in Spain. Balkan countries arc now seeking specific assurances of Allied help 111 the event of aggression. These would have to embrace Turkey, and such a development is not to be ruled out. "The possibility of war spreading to the Mediterranean, especially to Yugoslavs , was considered in detail at Monday's meeting of the Supreme War Council," says the "Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic correspondent. "Any infringement of Yugoslav independence, whether from Germany or Italy, would produce an immediate j Alliec reaction." | "There is a feeling of imminent peril i throughout the Balkans transcending 1 the recent general uneasiness." says a j Zurich message to the "Daily Telej graph." 1 "A puzzling aspect is that Soviet ! troops are rushing up earth fortificai tions on the Rumanian frontier, to I which materials are being sent day and night. Civilians are barred from the, area,"