ITALY’S CLAIM

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1937, Page 9

ITALY’S CLAIM

IN MEDITERRANEAN Equality in Patrol INSURGENT ATTACKS REPELLED. ON MADRID FRONT. ’ [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] MADRID, September 15. A rebel attack on the Elpardo sector caused the fiercest fighting for four months on the Madrid front. Crack shock troops. Moors and Falangists, also attacked the Carabanchel and Jarama fronts, but the onslaughts failed. ARRESTS IN MADRID. MADRID, September 15. Two Germans and three Spaniards were among the first arrested in the Republican drive against espionage. They ha'd £4OOO in gold and jewels. FLIGHT FROM GIJON. BY SOCIALISTS AND COMMUNISTS ST. JEAN DE LUZ, September 15. Insurgents claim to have captured a drifter in which were Socialists and Communists fleeing from the reign of terror established at Gijon by the dictator, Thomas.

GIJON BLOCKADE INCIDENTS. ST. JEAN DE LUZ, September 15. The British steamer “Hillfern,” was fired oil by an insurgent trawler off Gijon, and later was machine-gunned by a rebel ’plane, which tried to set fire to the deck cargo of oil with incendiary bombs. There was no damage.. ASTURIAS BREAKAWAY. ST. JEAN DE LUZ, September 15. Captives taken by the insurgents after the flight from Gijon, stated that. Asturias had been declared an independent State, and loyalists and military chiefs were sentenced. Remonstrances sent by radio from Valencia saved the life of the Soviet. Consul. INSURGENT ’PLANE BOMBS FRENCH SHIP. PERPIGNAN, September 15. An insurgent seaplane circled the French steamer, “Port Oendre,” after bombing Port Bou and the frontier rail tunnel. Coast batteries fired on the raider, which went out to sea, with a Republican fighter in pursuit. LIVE TORPEDO. FOUND BY FRENCH TRAWLER.

(Received September 16, 5.5 p.m.» MARSEILLES, September 16. A French trawler netted a live torpedo. This has been handed over to the Toulon Arsenal lor identification, as live torpedoes are not used during Naval practice. The markings of the torpedo may give some clue to the identity of pirates.

PATROL PLAN. BRITISH AIRCRAFT GOING. LONDON, September 15. A squadron of reconnaissance flying-boats, from Felixtowe, will leave for Malta, to-morrow, to participate in the Mediterranean patrol. It will later be joined by a squadron from Pembroke Dock. The measures for policing the Mediterranean against piratical attacks on merchantmen, establisned by the Nyon Agreement, will come into operation forthwith. A Geneva message states that two annexes to the arrangement, on which the naval experts have been working, were signed this morning. The first designates the zones which each Power reserves for its submarine manoeuvres on the high seas, while the second sets out the principal maritime routes which merchantmen are to be advised to follow, and which will be placed under the protection of warships. Broadcasting on the work of the Nyon Conference, Mr Eden said that the conference took as the Kernel of the arrangement the rules laid down in the London Naval Treaty of 1930, since re-affirmed in the submarine protocol, signed last year by all the Powers invited to the conference. They did not believe that unknown submarines would or could continue pirate attacks, if these rules were enforced. They had not admitted the rights of either party to the struggle, to interfere with non Spanish merchant ships, even if the rules of war are observed. Britain’s own right to take any action proper to protect her own merchant ships had not been affected. What had been done was to authorise a patrolling vessel to coun-ter-attack, and, if possible, to destroy any submarine actually engaged in piracy.

FRENCH PAPER'S STATEMENT. PARIS, September 15. “Italy is planning a vast new campaign to finish the Spanish war,” declares “L’Oeuvre,”. “Marshal Badoglio has just returned to Italy from a secret mission in Spain. He is reported to have informed Signor Mussolini that 150,000 more men with modern equipment, including gas, are needed to enable the fall of Madrid before the weather breaks. General Franco is reported to have objected to such ruthlessness, but Italy intends to go ahead as retaliation for the Nyon Agreement."

Invitation to Italy NYON CONFERENCE ATTITUDE. (Received September 16, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 16. The Geneva correspondent of “The Times” says: The invitation to Italy to join in the Mediterranean scheme stili stands, but the Nyon Conference delegates state that Italy must make the next move, and that it must be an approach to the whole Conference. They say Britain and France will take no further step alone.

Italian Objection TO DENIAL OF EQUALITY. ROME, September 15. Italy, regards extended. participation in the Mediterranean patrol as a matter of prestige. Mussolini’s “Fopolo d’ltalia” says: The part the Nyon Agreement assigns to Italy is

incompatible with tier prestige and interests. “La Messagero” and other papers similarly comment, but none indicates whether Italy will come in if offered a larger share of the patrol. It is hinted that it is illogical to expect Italy to protect neutral ships, carrying supplies to Republica.n Spain. Signor Gayda,.in an article, says: The next move rests with Britain and France, whose one-sided policy in the Mediterranean does not conform with the spirit of collaboration and friendship. (Received September 16, 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, September 16. The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says: Responsible quarters here assert that Italy’s refusal to join in the patrol scheme unless she is given equality with Britain and France, was dictated by logic and by geography. Nevertheless, the door for collaboration has not been closed. Once the Italian objections are removed, it is argued, Italy wlil hasten to join in the scheme. It is pointed out, says the correspondent, that if the Italian demand is not satisfied, then the presence of British and French destroyers in the Mediterranean will further complicate an already critical situation.

GERMAN OFFICIAL ATTITUDE. ITALY ENTITLED TO EQUALITY. I Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received September 16, 9.10 p.m.) . LONDON, September 16. The Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says: German official circles declare that Italy’s refusal to co-operate in the Mediterranean patrol scheme fully represents Germany’s viewpoint, and Italy’s reply was drawn up after consultation with the German Government. It is emphasised, says the correspondent, that it now lies with Britain and France to grant Italy the equality which she demands.

FRENCH -EXPECTATION. PARIS. September 15. The French press is hopeful that Italy will be brought in, but expresses satisfaction with the British-French action, which will lead to the reestablishment of their power in the Mediterranean. CABALLcRO'S COMMENT. PARIS, September 15. Senor Caballero, interviewed by “Le Matin,” regretted that while Britain and France were' protecting their own shipping, nothing was done to protect the Spanish coast.