PART WITHDRAWN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19757, 11 October 1938, Page 5

PART WITHDRAWN

LEAVING SPAIN ITALIAN INFANTRYMEN MAXIMUM CONCESSION POSSIBLE BRITISH PACT BOM LINO OF BARCELONA (Floe. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 11, noon) LONDON, Oct. 10. The Australian Associated Press says that official circles in London are pleased over Italy’s intended withdrawal of 10.000 troops from Spain, but it is understood that a more substantial gesture will he necessary before the Anglo-Italian pact can be implemented. Further withdrawals are expected by stages. The latest reports from official observers in Spain estimate that the Italian troops total 30,000. The Milan correspondent of The Times reports that Italian legionaries .whom General Franco is sending home from Spain have assembled at Rioja, from where they will proceed to Naples in a few days. Four Thousand Killed The newspaper Corriere Della Sera says that the Italians participated in the most important battles during the past 21 months, losing 4000 killed and v 9000 wounded. An Italian semi-official communique issued in Rome since midnight makes it clear that Signor Mussolini regards the withdrawal of 10.000 Italian troops from Spain as Italy’s maximum concession in order to procure the ratification of the Anglo-Italian agreement. The communique adds that the withdrawal of the troops is not connected with the decisions of the NonIntervention Committee nor with the international. Mediterranean or political situations, but that the action was decided on long before the Munich conference. “Also the reports of the discussion of a Mediterranean pact are misleading and premature,” says the communique. ’A.' , Airmen Still Wanted Reuter’s correspondent in Rome says it is noted that only infantrymen are being withdrawn from Spain. General Franco is reported to have declared that he still requires the Italian airmen, who are playing a most important part in the Ebro offensive. The correspondent adds that the Italians are anxiously awaiting to hear whether the withdrawal of infantrymen will satisfy Britain. A message from Barcelona save that an aeroplane bombed and set lire the steamer Bramhill and again struck the steamer Gothic with successive bombs.