ENORMOUS ARMY

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

ENORMOUS ARMY

ITALIAN LEGIONS MORE THAN 1,000,000 MEN STRONG CONCENTRATIONS 400,000 ON THE MAINLAND By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, April 11 An official communique issued in Rome states that with the calling up of the full 1901 to 1912 classes, and the presence with the colours of the full 1917 "to 1918, and part of the 1919, classes, and the partial recall of specialists of other classes, Italy's armed forces have reached imposing levels. Provided that there are no exceptional circumstances, there will be no more calling up.

It is estimated that there are now more than 1,000,000 men under arms. Political writers say they understand that the communique is intended to combat rumours that general mobilisation is imminent. Of Italians under arms, the strongest concentrations arei in Northern Italy, says the Rome correspondent of the British United Press. There are 400,000 on the mainland and in Sicily and Sardinia, 50,000 in Albania, 60,000 in Spain, 30,000 in the Dodecanese Islands, 80,000 in Libya and 280,000 in Ethiopia. Italy is reported to he making the Adriatic impregnable, says the Athens correspondent of the British United Press. She has sent 3000 technicians to Valona to build new fortifications, beside unloading 250 Krupp guns and fortifying the Italian side of the Straits of Otranto and garrisoning the Dodecanese Islands.

TROOPS AT CADIZ a ' i J ITALIANS ARRIVING SPANISH FORCES MOVING FRENCH FRONTIER MENACED (Received April 13, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 12 .'Reports that Itsilian reinforcements have been arriving at Cadiz are confirmed, says the Paris correspondent of the Times. Italy's attitude toward her pledges to withdraw her volunteers from Spain is regarded as most important in judging the value of the assurances she has given relating to the status quo elsewhere. Abnormal Spanish troop movements have been observed near the French frontier, notably at Irun and Pamplona, where there are strong concentrations. 1 lift is reliably stated that a further contingent of Italian troops, dressed as civilians, arrived at Cadiz on Saturday, saj's the Gibraltar correspondent of the British United Press. At a meeting of his Cabinet, General Franco approved of a network of highways in Morocco and the improvement of the seaplane base. At Gibraltar the guard on the Spanish frontier has been heavily reinforced and is patrolling in full kit. The Gibraltar correspondent of thfe Times says 12,000 Moors have been repatriated from Spain.

FIERCE FIGHTING ALBANIAN MOUNTAINS ITALIANS NEAR YUGOSLAVIA LONDON, April 11 Italian troops and Albanian irregulars are still fighting in the northern mountains, says a message from Belgrade. The Albanian Legation in Paris reports the continuation of fierce fighting at Elbasan and two other centres between mountain tribesmen and regular army soldieru under the Princes Sali and Hussein. A message from Tirana says resistance is no longer serious. It is thought that Prince Hussein's former Minister of Education, M. Dibra, is also fighting with 500 men near Matya, where an Italian aeroplane was brought down. Italians have occupied Tepelena; in South Albania, also Devoli, north of which is Tirana, the capital of Albania. An Italian motoirised column has reached the Yugoslav border, states a message from Rome. Several classes of Yugoslav reservists have been called up on the Albanian frontier, mainly at Sarajevo and Skolpje. Political prisoners iin Albania accused "under the former reactionary regime" are being released. The Constituent Assembly is to meet, to-morrow.

ILL-FATED QUEEN NOW SERIOUSLY ILL ATHENS, April 11 The px-Qupen Gcra dine of Albania is reported to bo suffering from puerperal fever, is in a hospital at Larissa, and her condition is serious. A German specialist is said to liave been summoned to her bedside*. NAZIS IN BULGARIA DISSOLUTION BY DECREE (Received April 12, 7.50 p.m.) SOFIA. April 12 A decree dissolves the Bulgarian Nazi Party. It alleges the Nazi Party planned to overthrow the Government. SIAM AND JAPAN (lteceived April 12, 5.5 p.m.) TOKIO, April 11 The Siamese Minister to Japan, Mr. Phya Sri Sena, denies that Siam is forming an anti-Japanese bloc with Britain. He says Siam seeks only continued independence and friendly cooperation with all nations.