WAR NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 23811, 15 February 1941, Page 12

WAR NEWS

GENERAL FRANCO REFUSES TO JOIN AXIS MUSSOLINI’S PROPOSALS REJECTED LONDON, February 14. The ‘ Daily Mail’s ’ correspondent on the French frontier says that Vichy reports state that Franco again refused to join the Axis in the war against Britain. Mussolini, it is said, asked Ganeral Franco either to assist the Axis in attacking Gibi altar or to allow German troops to cross Spain and grant Italy the necessary sea and air bases. General Franco answered “ No ” to both plans. NO OFFICIAL STATEMENTS LONDON, February 14. Beyond a short communique, “ after his return from Italy General Franco met Marshal Petain at Montpellier, ■where Marshal Petain dined with General Franco,” no light can bo thrown on to-day’s meeting, after which General Franco and Senor Suner left Montpellier. Equal mystery surrounds the meeting between General Franco and Mussolini, upon which foreign correspondents in Rome have been -forbidden to speculate, although glamorous accounts of the meeting arc given prominence in the Italian newspapers. THE SPANISH THRONE LISBON, February 14. (Received February 15, at 8 a.m.) It is announced that ex-King Alfonso signed a document in Rome on January 15 giving his youngest son, Don Juan, full right to ascend the Spanish throne if invited to do so.

GERMAN GRIP OK ITALY TIGHTENING

THREAT TO RELIEVE MUSSOLINI OF CONTROL (British Official Wireless.) . RUGBY, February 14. (Received February 15, at 9.30 a.m.) General Franco has returned to Spain. There is the inevitable speculation abroad as to the object II Duce had in view in inviting General Franco to Italy at this time, but in Spain reticence is displayed and there is no editorial comment on the subject, while the news columns, although making much of the enthusiasm with which the head of the Spanish State was received in Italy, make no attempt to add to the information contained in the formal communiques. In Franco a similar reserve is shown in the report of Marshal Petain’s meeting with General Franco. With his African empire in ruins and Genoa severely battered by the British Navy on the eve of the visit, it is safe to assume that Mussolini reflected sadly on the superior wisdom of General Franco, who declined to allow the passage of German troops through Spaift, whereas, as the result of his own reckless and clumsy policy, animated by greed and shortsightedness, German troops are already occupying bases in Italy, and there is growing evidence that the Gorman commanders are increasingly threatening to relieve II Duce of control. COUNT VON LUCKNER HUNTING IN HARZ MOUNTAINS " HAPPY TO SEE NOTHING BUT GAME " LONDON, February 13. The New Y'ork correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that Mr Lowell Thomas reports the receipt of a letter from Count von Luckner dated January 1, Halle, Germany, stating: “ I spend most of my time hunting in tho Harz Mountains and living in a log cabin almost cut off from the world. I am happy to sec nothing but game. The Sea Devil is berthed at Stebbins, awaiting new developments.”