NAVAL MOVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 11

NAVAL MOVES

SQUADRONS AT SEA SOVIET WARSHIPS BBITISH AT MALTA I ALLIES SHOW FORCE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Keceived April 12, 8.30 p.m.) , LONDON, April 12 The French Mediterranean fleet sailed from Toulon late last night for a destination which has not been disclosed, says the Marseilles correspondent of the British United Press. Fourteen Soviet warships are reported by the Times' Belgrade correspondent to have passed through the Bosphorus, bound in the direction of Greece. The British battleships Barham, 'Ramillies and Warspite have arrived at Malta. 6. ' T a The French Mediterranean Fleet Comprises the Ist Light Squadron (10 cruisers and the seaplane-carrier Commandant Teste), the 2nd Light Squadron (14 large destroyers), the Ist Destroyer Flotilla (seven smaller destroyers), the Ist Submarine Flotilla (the depot-ship Lion ar.d 12 submarines)), the net-lnxer Le Gladiateur and two oil-tankers.

FRANCE READY FORCES STANDING BY PARTIAL MOBILISATION PLANS » J WARNING TO ITALY (Received April 13, 12.30 a.ra.T PARIS, April 12 The Cabinet has approved further military measures, and reviewed the machinery for partial mobilisation overreaching previous precautions. The rate of calling up reservists will be accelerated and the preparations of all branches are being carried to a point at which they will be ready for instant action. / Measures are being studied for turning over the railways to the Army. The Fleet is'believed to be fully pre- ' pared and the coastal batteries are manned. It is reported that there are large- j scale fortifications in Spanish Morocco aimed at preventing a French advance toward Ceuta with the object of relieving any menace to Gibraltar. The Prime Minister, M. Daladier, to-day received the Rumanian and American Ambassadors. ; The Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, had a conference with the Soviet Ambassador, M. Souritz. It is stated that Britain and France are trying to evolve a formula whereby Poland and Rumania would accept Soviet aid. M. Bonnet also had a conference with Marshal Petain, Ambassador to Spain, who was recalled from Burgos as the result of reports that General Franco had signed a military alliance with Italy and Germany, who were sending further troops to Spain and fortifying the Pyrenees. It is stated that Marshal Petain was instructed to inform General Franco that France will regard the retention of foreign! troops in Spain after May 15 as an unfriendly act.

GERMAN SUBMARINES 28 MORE LAID DOWN TONNAGE EQUALLING BRITISH (Received April 12, 5.5 p.m.). LONDON, April 11 The Naval Year Book discloses that Germany is laying down 28 more submarines, making a total of 99, with a tonnage equal to Britain's. The new craft have 4.lin. and 3.4 in. guns. The tonnage of the new battleship row on the stocks will be 40,000, equal to that of Britain's new battleship.

VEILED THREAT MEDITERRANEAN POSITION - 1 ITALY'S CLAIM TO MALTA Independent Cable Service ROME, April 11 Writing in II Giornale d'ltalia, Signor Gayda, Signor Mussolini's press mouthpiece, says: "One cannot see how Italy's occupation of Albania should have upset the Mediterranean situation. One cannot see where is the threat to Britain's vital interests." The writer refers to Gibraltar as Spanish territory and Malta as Italian Boil, adding: "Should some ill-con-sidered decision attempt to bar the road mapped out by Italy, she will calmly consider such unjust reaction :in its true significance and take the necessary steps to oppose it."

EGYPT'S, GARRISON BRITAIN REINFORCING LONDON. April 11 It is stated that 2500 British troops *'•l go to Egypt to-morrow to reestablish the normal garrison, in that country, says a message from Jerusalem. The War Office says they are returning normally to their overseas station. MOSLEMS* ANGER Independent Cable Service (Received April 12, 5.5 p.m.) , CALCUTTA,, April 11 A Ipndinc Moslem daily newspaper, in editorial, says: "Signor Mussolini scoff at Kngland and France, but e * him not undor-rate the Moslem World, which is. highly indignant over Albania." '