ITALIAN POWER in the Mediterranean

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 100, 8 April 1936, Page 5

ITALIAN POWER in the Mediterranean

VAST PROGRAMME Absolute Control is the Aim SHIPS, PLANES, BASES (By Telegraph—Press Aesti., Copyright.) LONDON, April 7./ The “Daily Telegraph’s’’ naval correspondent says; “Italy is planning a big naval programme immediately the Abyssinian war is over. She is aiming at absolute control of the south-eastern Mediterranean and the highway eastward. “The programme Includes the rapid completion of the two 35,000-ton battle cruisers yitterio .Venito and Litterio, the construction of more cruisers, de> stroyers and submarines, additional naval aircraft, new fortified bases and aerodromes in Sardinia, Sicily, Libya and Eritrea. “ | f “Exercises to test the practicability of blocking the Mediterranean route between southern Italy and Africa already have been carried out. The French naval bases at Bizerta and Tunis are not regarded as serious obstacles to Italy’s new ambition, as it is claimed that they could be rendered untenable by an overpowering air offensive. Both are less than an hour's flight from Italian aerodromes. “Malta, which is only 65 miles Sicily, could, it is claimed, be similarly neutralised. “There are at present 400 Italian aircraft in Sicily and “Italian spokesmen declare that the new policy is purely defensive, but any Power attacking Italy might have to reckon with total stoppage of its trade with the East.’’