ITALY CALLS UP RESERVISTS

Southland Times, Issue 23774, 23 March 1939, Page 5

ITALY CALLS UP RESERVISTS

Nation Kept Ready For Emergency ADHESION TO PACT WITH GERMANY FASCIST GRAND COUNCIL MEETS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received March 22, 9 40 p.m.) LONDON, March 22.

More Italian army reservists and specialists are reported to have been called up during the past few days, including the 1901, 1902 and 1903 classes, says the Rome correspondent of the British United Press, but it is authoritatively stated that this is merely part of the campaign to keep Italy prepared for any emergency that may arise. The Fascist Grand Council after its meeting last night issued the following statement:—

“Faced by the threatened constitution of a united front of the democracies associated with Bolshevism against the totalitarian States—a united front bringing not peace but war—the Fascist Grand Council declares that the events in Central Europe had their origin in the Treaty of Versailles, and reaffirms at this moment its full adhesion to the Rome-Berlin axis.” The statement reveals that Signor Mussolini spoke at length on the international situation, including recent events, but it does not reveal details. The Grand Council also reaffirmed the original fascist motto: “Believe! Obey! Fight!” Signor Mussolini had a conference with the Italian Ambassador in London (Count Dino Grandi) and the Italian Ambassador - to Berlin (Dr Attolico) after the meeting of the Grand Council. The Rome newspapers state that Signor Mussolini will announce next Sunday Italy’s reaction to recent events and her new goals.

Dr Attolico had a two-hour talk with Herr Hitler before he left Berlin for Rome with a message from Signor Mussolini from the Fuhrer.

Field-Marshal Hermann Goering and Frau Goering have left for Italy to resume their interrupted holiday. EGYPTIAN PROTEST TO ITALY LIBYAN REINFORCEMENTS CAIRO, March 21. The Prime Minister of Egypt (Mahmoud Pasha) has protested to the Italian Minister in Qairo against the reinforcement of the Italian forces in Libya and has informed him that if the movements continue Egypt will take measures to protect her frontier with her ally, Britain. The Italian Minister will return to Rome tomorrow to report on the situation in Egypt. GERMAN TROOPS SENT TO ITALY? PARIS, March 21. A Swiss member of Parliament, M. Opprecht, declared that German troops had passed through the Brenner Pass towards Italy, where an establishment of the German air force was being set up. There was also a strong element of German troops in Libya, he asserted.