FORCES OF AXIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23384, 28 June 1939, Page 16

FORCES OF AXIS

ITALIAN ASSERTION SUPERIOR TO DEMOCRACIES 20,000,000 IN FIELD IN WAR THREAT OF AIRRAIDS [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] LONDON", Junr 2 Assertions that the Italo-Germnn land, sea and air forces arc superior <o those of the democratic bloc have now assumed the form of a definitely established dogma in the Italian press, says the Rome correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. In II Giornnle d'ltalia General Anibrogio Bollati gives his reasons for assuming this superiority. The writer states that the 100.000.000 men of the Rome-Berlin Axis form a compact- nud homogeneous whole Irom the Baltic to Libya. Tlie hundreds of millions of men belonging to the AngloFrench bloc are scattered over threequarters of the globe. Moreover, the latter include the British Socialist Party, which is hostile to military service; the Ox lord undergraduates, who are conscientious objectors; the Dominions, which think only of their own affairs; and the Irish, who are determined not to fight for the I'nited Kingdom. Also, the transport of black troops from Africa is even more problematical than in 1911. Paris and London as Targets According to General Bollati. Germany and Italy can put 20.000,000 men into the field, of whom ninny have already lirul war experience. The Axis Air Forces and submarines are far better than those of the Anglo-French bloc. Jn addition, Spain might join the axis. The newspaper Resto del Carlino states that if the British and French fleets sail into th- Mediterranean they will never get out of it. The .Mediterranean will he their eternal grave. Alter the first attack against an Italian town, Paris and London would be targets for an "infernal" air attack, which would change the face of both capitals. If general headquarters in .France and Britain share the views of certain French newspapers about the need tor bombing Italian towns in the event of war, the paper continues, British and French photographers would do well to lose no time in taking several plates of the principal London and Paris thoroughfares before they become historical memories and before their place is taken by wild cats and owls. French Rule in Syria The Italian press is paying considerable attention to what- it claims to he the precarious situation in British and French Moslem possessions. LI Giornnle d'ltalia alleges that the revolt in Palestine has assumed tragic proportions, and that in .Jerusalem recently 14 people were killed and several hundred wounded. In the same newspaper Signer Gayda attacks France's policy in Syria. He alleges that France has betrayed Syria by violating treaties. He attempts to prove this bv giving the secret text of the protocol and of a common declaration signed in Paris on November 14, 1938, by M. Bonnet. French Foreign Minister, and Jamil Mardam Bey, chief of the Syrian Government. These documents, alleges Signor Gayda, have never been published because they constitute a grave alteration of the Franco-Syrian treaty signed in 1936, whereby France was bound to recognise Syria's independence. Some Discrepancies Apparent The test of these documents, however, proves that France and Syria merely reserve to themselves the following rights: To develop their trade and financial relations. To give first place to French teaching in cultural and scholastic relations. To postpone the application of the 1936 treaty until September 30, 193!). It appears that there is some discrepancy between Signor Gnyda's assertion and the text which he quotes.