FIFTY BRITISH PLANES LANDED AT ATHENS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 15 April 1939, Page 7

FIFTY BRITISH PLANES LANDED AT ATHENS

NAVAL STAFF TALKS EXPECTED COMPARATIVE STRENGTH OF RIVAL FLEETS (Received 15th April. 9.15 a.m.) LONDON. 14th April. The Salonika correspondent of the “Daily Express” reports that 50 British warplanes are being unloaded at Athens. Greece’s three major air bases. Athens, Larissa and Salonika will immediately be strengthened. It is understood that staff talks between British and Greek naval officers will start shortly preparatory to Britain’s being granted free entry to the Agean Islands. It is estimated that Greece has at present one million troops on a wartime footin?. The comparative naval strengths in the Mediterranean are estimated as follows: Britain and France, four battleships averaging 30.000 tons, two battleships averaging 22.000 tons, two aircraft carriers, 10 heavy and nine lighter cruisers, G 4 destroyers, eight torpedo boats, 48 submarines and six motor torpedo boats.

Italy and Germany: Two battleships of <3.600 tons, three “pocket battleships” of 10,000 tons, seven heavy and 18 lighter cruisers, 59 destroyers, 70 torpedo boats, 120 submarines and 50 motor torpedo boats. (These estimates include German warships to be sent on manoeuvres off the coast of Spain.)

The naval correspondent of the “Daily Express” points out that Germany made free use of Basque ports during the Spanish war and established a submarine base at Pasajes soon after the outbreak.

Meanwhile, it is reported from War- ‘ saw that Russia has planned the biggest naval demonstration in Russian history to take placa on Herr Hitler's birthday. The entire Soviet Baltic fleet, including aircraft carriers and submarines, will exercise in the Baltic. WAR PRECAUTIONS IN MARSEILLES (Received 15th April, 9.0 a.m.) MARSEILLES, 14th April. Trench shelters are being dug and i the distribution of gas masks has begun. Plans for the evacuation of the population are being prepared.