MAXIMUM CONCESSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 240, 11 October 1938, Page 7

MAXIMUM CONCESSION

INFANTRYMEN ONLY Italian Withdrawals From Spain WILL BRITAIN BE SATISFIED? (By lelegrtph—Press Association—Copy, gn'.j Received Oct. 10, 10.20 p.m. ROME, OcL 10. A semi-official conn.unique issued since midnight maxes it clear that Signor Mussoiini 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 is not connected with the decisions of the Non-Intervention Committee nor with international Mediterranean political situations, but was decided long before the Munich Conference. “Also reports of discussions for a Mediterranean pact are misleading and premature,” says the communique.

Reuter’s Rome correspondent says it is noted that only infantrymen are being withdrawn. 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 the infantrymen will satisfy Britain.

ITALIAN LEGIONARIES PROCEEDING TO NAPLES Received Oct. 10, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 10. The Milan correspondent of The Times reports that Italian legionaries, whom General Franco is sending home, assembled at Rioja, whence they will proceed to Naples in a few days. The newspaper Corriere Del La Sera says they participated in the most important battles during the past 21 months, losing 4000 killed and 9000 wounded.

"STILL LIVES" A NGLO-ITAUAN FRIENDSHIP. Received Oct. 10, 11.5 p.m. ROME, Oct. 10. “The old Anglo-Italian friendship still lives in the hearts of Englishmen and Italians and the graves of the British dead are honoured as a pledge of eternal friendship,” said Marshal Caviglia at the annual meeting of the Anglo-Italian War Graves Committee. He hoped the mutual brotherhood of arms would never be broken. Lord Cavan, replying, said that Britons fully appreciated Signor Mussolini’s help at Munich, which showed that the problems were able to be settled by discussion. Britain and Italy had an important part to play in preserving peace. The British delegation were vividly impressed by the Italian friendliness shown both in the official contacts in Rome and the spontaneous welcome received from the population in the wargrave areas. BARCELONA BOMBED BRITISH SHIPS HIT Received Oct. 10, 9.50 <.jn. BARCELONA, Oct. 10. Aeroplanes bombed and set on fire the steamer Bramhill and again struck th* steamer Gothic with successive bombs.