FRANCE GETS READY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 85, 12 April 1939, Page 10

FRANCE GETS READY

LAND AND SEA FORCES

ANTI-AGGRESSION DIPLOMACY

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received April 12, 2.30 p.m.)

PARIS, April 11

Cabinet has approved further military measures and reviewed the machinery for > partial mobilisation, over-reaching previous precautions. The rate of calling up reservists is being accelerated and the preparations of all branches are being carried to the point at which the country will be ready for instant action. • Measures are being studied for turning over the railways to the army. The fleet is believed to be fully prepared and the coastal batteries have been manned.

It is reported that large-scale fortifications in Spanish Morocco are aimed at preventing a French advance towards Ceuf/i with the object'of relieving any menace to Gibraltar.

It is authoritatively stated that Greece has informed Britain and France that she will resist any aggression and that Cabinet has, decided to co-operate fully with the Er^lish and French guarantee to Greece.

M. Bonnet had a conference with the Soviet Ambassador, M. Souritz. It is stated that Britain and France are trying to evolve a formula Avhereby Poland and Rumania will accept aid from the Soviet. A message from Athens states that the Italian guarantee to preserve the integrity of Greece has been received. M. Daladier received the Rumanian and American Ambassadors and the Soviet Ambassador called at the Foreign Office. M. Bonnet had a conference with Marshal Petain, who was recalled from Burgos as a,result of reports that General Franco had signed a military alliance with Italy and Germany, who were sending .further troops to Spain and fortifying the Pyrenees.