AGAINST ITALY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 169, 17 June 1940, Page 7

AGAINST ITALY

ARABS AND MOSLEMS. WARFARE IN NEAR EAST. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received June 17, 10.20 a.ru. LONDON, June 16. An agency message from Beirut (Syria) strikingly illustrates tlie feeling of the Arab world towards the latest war developments. The Grand Mufti, whose reputation for piety and learning is great, has declared that a strong feeling of resentment prevails in Moslem and Arab circles at Italy’s entry into the war on the side of Germany. God would see the cause of justice was victorious over barbaric aggression.

That tlie strong sentiment against Italy is not confined to religious circles is evidenced by a pamphlet denouncing Italian aggression issued by the Moslem National Youtli Organisation and by a statement of the head oi the Syrian Government that Arabs ami Moslems are more on the side of ihe Allies than ever as they realise the dreadful consequences they would lie exposed to if the Allies failed to win. Alexandria reports that the evacuation of the city is proceeding. _ It- is expected that 40,000 will leave in the coming week. An Istanbul message says that in view of the gravity of the situation and the necessity for close contact with the Government, the Diplomatic Corps have decided to make their headquarters Ankara instead of Istanbul. RAIDS IN EGYPT. From Cairo it’ is stated that a communique from the British Middle East General Headquarters says Italian naval units and ’planes attacked Solium (on the Egyptian-Libyan border) yesterday, wounding two officers and 20 men of the Egyptian Forde whose barracks and stores were damaged. These are the first Egyptian casualties reported since the outbreak of hostilities on the Egyptian-Libyan frontier. The Italian Ajr Force raided sido Barrani and caused eight civilian casualties. These are the first air raid victims in Egypt. An R.A.F. communique states: “Tlie Italians have carried out further abortive raids over Malta. Our fighters drove off the enemy.” 1 The Albanian Parliament has passed a Bill entering the war on tlie side of Italy. ITALIAN - SCUTTLING. LONDON, June 15. The Italian steamer Marzocco (5106 tons) is believed to have been scuttled off Scotland. Thirty-one of the crew have been landed at a British port. A French destroyer is reported to have fired on and sunk tlie Italian vessel Fortunata (4786 tons) south of Teneriffe. The crew took to tlie boats and reached the shore. A submarine torpedoed a Spanish ship off Cape Finisterre. A fisliing-boat rescued 19 of the crew. ALLIES "SUPPORTED. FEELING IN TURKEY. LONDON, June 14. An Ankara communique says that a meeting of tlio Turkish People’s Party unanimously approved explanations of the general situation and Turkish policy by the Prime Minister (Dr. Saydaml and the Foreign Minister (M. Saracoclu). It adds that all the deputies present demonstrated in the warmest possible manner in favour of the Allies. Turkish ships are forbidden to sail beyond Smyrna. Italian banks throughout Turkey have wound mi their clients’ accounts.