ITALY NOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23115, 13 August 1938, Page 15

ITALY NOW

DUCE BEATS DRUM PREPARING FOR WAR NO PEACE ILLUSIONS GERMAN FORTIFICATIONS TANK TEAPS AND WIRE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, August 11 "Italy has no illusions v about peace. She is preparing for war," declared Signor Mussolini, when reviewing 25.000 officers and men, says a Rome message. He added: "While guns are booming in so many parts of the world, such an illusion is folly. Unprcparedncss is a crime. "We are therefore, getting ready. Italians have only one privilege and ambition— to bear arms in defence of the Fatherland." Signor Gayda, editor of Signor Mussolini's newspaper II Giornale d'ltalia, commenting on 11 Duce's speech, writes that the general darkening of the European and world situation, which is exacting from every country armed vigilance, means that Italy must be capalile of the maximum strength for offence. Experimental exercises have confirmed the view that Italy is more ready than ever before. ' German Frontier The strictest, secrecy is being maintained regarding the fortification of Germany's western frontier, says a message from Metz, but it is known that permits have been stopped of many hundreds of German miners, who formerly crossed the frontier daily to work in French mines. They are now forced to find work in Germany. It is learned that 16.000 additional workers arrived from Westphalia and from Mechlenburg-Schwerin for fortification construction. Tank traps are reported to be completed along the frontier, and barbed wire barriers have been erected every ~ quarter-mile. War-time Conditions According to Field-Marshal Goering's Essen newspaper, the National-Zeitung, the autumn army manoeuvres will be on a small scale. They are particularly concerned with co-operation of the ( army and inhabitants "so that the resemblance to wartime conditions will be as close as possible." The paper adds: "There will be no plan for defending the country against an enemy from a neighbouring State. Germany does not require 'such political demonstrations so beloved in London, Paris, Prague and Moscow." CZECH DISCUSSIONS HOPES OF PROGRESS FORTNIGHT REQUIRED YET HOSTILE GERMAN PROPAGANDA LONDON, August 11 •It is anticipated that the negotiations which Viscount Runciman is carrying out in Prague may enter a concrete stage a fortnight hence, in spite of the efforts of the German press and wireless to exacerbate nationalist passions in the hope of wrecking his mission, says the Prague correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. Representatives of the Sudeten Germans and the Chechoslovakian representatives will discuss the situation, resuming next Wednesday. SOVIET DEFENCE NEED FOR MORE STRENGTH GROWING FASCIST MENACE (Received August 12, 11.20 p.m.) MOSCOW, August 12 Referring to the increased defence appropriations, M. Bulganin, chairman of the Council of Commissars, said that •"the growing menace of Fascist aggression obliges us to strengthen our military power to the utmost, especially on the Far Eastern frontier."