BUSTLE AT NAPLES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 8, 4 October 1935, Page 10

BUSTLE AT NAPLES

Departure of Italian Troops to Africa When the Orient liner Ormonde called at Naples on her last trip out to Australia there were signs of intense military activity on every hand. Mr. Robert Telford, a Wellington business man who was a passenger by the Ormonde, said that they were told that five transports had left for the Red Sea the day before. Lying ata dock only 50 yards away from the Ormonde was another transport getting ready to leave. “There were Italian soldiers all about the docks, some carrying full kits and others in working clothes,” said Mr. Telford. “1 toll you those boys did not seem to he happy about their prospects. There was none of that elation noticeable when the New Zealanders went away. No, they were not happy about it, I felt sure. There were a lot of old motor-trucks and cars and 12 aeroplanes. minus their wings, also waiting to be shipped.” “Some of the Ormonde's officers told 'us that thousands of Italians had been shipped back from Somaliland with fever.” said Mr. Telford. “They were not sent back to Italy, however, but were taken to some island in the Mediterranean to recoup so that a bad impression would not be created in Italy.” Mr. Telford said that as the result of Italy’s military activities. Port Said and Suez were enjoying a boom. The nicht before the Ormonde arrived at Port Said there had been a fracas ashore in which two Egyptians had. been killed bv Italian soldiers.