MOCK WARFARE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 200, 27 August 1935, Page 7

MOCK WARFARE

ITALIAN MANOEUVRES A FORMIDABLE FORCE MUSSOLINI’S GESTURE [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] BOLZANO, Aug. 25. Half a million Italians arc engaged in operations on the northern frontier. It is not only’ the mightiest army ever mobiliesed in Europe peace-time manoeuvres, but one of the. most formidably-equipped armed organisations the world has ever seen. It is believed that the manoeuvres arc Signor Mussolini’s answer to those who declare that Abyssinia has exposed Italy to European attacks. The manoeuvres began at midnight, when the “Red Army” took up positions in a chain of divisions from Lake Maggoire to the Brenper Dass, the Austrian gateway to Italy. They will launch an attack southwards on the “Blue Army,” which is defending Italy. After an initial repulse the “Blue Army” will be reinforced in an endeavour to capture flanking positions at Bolzano. Other less important sectors of the Alps, north of Milan, Friulo on the north-eastern frontier, and also around Naples the new mechanised mobile divisions will be fully used in order to test their value in mountain warfare. King Victor Emanuel and British and Yugoslav military attaches are attending the exercises, in which regular troops, Black Shirts and Alpini are participating. The southern armies outnumber the invaders by two to one, and also possess heavier artillery. Prior to taking command, Signor Mussolini conversed by wireless with General Debono, the Eritrean com-mander-in-chief. FRENCH WITNESSES MILITARY MISSION. PARIS, Aug. 25. General Moyran, accompanied by a military mission, is witnessing the Balzano operations. He commands the 15th Army Corps at Marseilles, which would be the first to co-operate with Italy in the event of an attack upon Austrian independence. Le Matin regards the manoeuvres as a logical sequel to the Franco-Italian understanding reached when General Gamelinu, the Friench Chief of Staff, went to Rome. FOREIGN ATTACHES. WIDE REPRESENTATION. Received Aug. 26, 10.50 p.m. BOLZANO, Aug. 26. Eighty foreign attaches are present, including those from Austria, Albania, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Russia and Hungary.