MUSSOLINI’S POLICY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 27 November 1926, Page 4

MUSSOLINI’S POLICY.

The British peoples throughout the world are vitally concerned with the balance of sea power, in its commercial as well as its war aspects. In particular they watch, though not necessarily in an unfriendly spirit, every development of naval policy in the Mediterranean, which is the essential highway between east and west, about Ou per cent of the ships which pass through the Suez Canal being British-owned. Consequently Signor Mussolini s recent statement that “Italy’s future; lies on the seas” is not to be ignored in view or the determined policy 'which is being pursued Avitli a view to strengthen'ing the Italian navy and increasing the Italian mercantile marine. Signor Mussolini has told the Italian people, in speeches and lectures, that tney must revive the ancient glories of Roman sea power, which converted the Mediterranean into practically a domestic lake, over wiiich Rome exercised almost unchallenged control. Whatever may be thought of the Fascist rule in Italy to-day, it is incontrovertible that the country, after the post-war unrest which threatened to reduce it to the conditions of Soviet Russia, has once more found itself, and is working with a will to fulfil the new ambitions of which Signor Mussolini lias made himself the exponent. Industry is rapidly reviving, and Italian communication by sea, as by air, is being improved and developed. Italy, which possessed less than 1,500,000 tons of merchant shipping on the outbreak of the Great War, now has upwards of 3,000,000 tons, and month by month is sending new vessels afloat. The same movement towards expansion is affecting the Italian navy. Year by year the navy estimates continue to increase. Of the increase voted for the current year, about £1,500,000 is directly allocated for new construction. The vessels now under construction include two cruisers of 10,000 tons (the Trento and Trieste), 16 destroyers, 12 submarines, four minelayers, six combined mine-layers and mine-sweepers, and two oilers. In pursuance of tlie 1023-28 building • programme, it is proposed to lay down immediately four more destroyers and four additional submarines.