WAR TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 114, 24 January 1940, Page 3

WAR TOPICS

neutrals breathe again ITALIANS MAY BE COMPELLED TO FIGHT FLEETS OF THE POWERS (By the DEACON Watchman) Once again the Nazi forccs across the frontiers of Holland and Belgium have held their hands, and the neutrals are alle to breathe ai>ain. They are taking no chances and are not assuming that Germany's demonstrations are sheer bluff ancl this is evidenced by the Defence Minister of Belgium, who says that mobilisation will be maintained for some time yet.

It has been clearly stated by representatives of Britain ancl i 1 rfincc that in the event of a German attack on Belgium the Allies would go to her assistance at once. If th<-y found out nothing else during the last few days the Nazis :u. least have learned what to expect. Howevci, they probably expected something of that sort before. The Allies' support of the low countries is inevitable . One thing the Germans apparently do not realise is that every time they produce a scare of invasion thev are giving the neutral countries more time to meet it. Belgium and Holland, in the face of the repeated threats cannot help but become more watchful and alert. * m * * It is reported that after a conference of Fascist Party leaders, the secretary-general of the party, Signor Ettoire Muti, warned Italians that they might be compelled to fight in the European war at any moment. It is also reported that he advised the people not to be too greatly impressed by recent demonstrations of international sympathy. Apparently he was referring to the more friendly attitude France and Britain have shown to Italy since the outbreak of war. It is hard to reconcile Signor Mutfs statement, in which he hints that Italy will enter the conflict on the side of Germany, with the recent ly concluded pact between Italy and the Balkan States. In that pact Italy guarantees Hungary from attack by Germany and Russia. It is logical to assume that had Mussolini contemplated joining forces with Hitler he would hardly have gone to the lengths of diplomatic, exchanges and the forming of an alii-

ancc with HungaryThe guaranteeing of Hungary against aggression by Germany should go a long way towards assuring Balkan peacc and by this agreement Italy's prestige in the Balkans is greatly increased. The fact that this prestige is increased at Germany's expense, with a loss also in Balkan trade, makes it more difficult to believe that Italy is inclined towards Nazi Germany. In November I observed, under the heading of "Italy's Position," thai Italy has nothing in common with Germany except some similarity in political control. Further, thai Germany's visible aim lie? south-east, through Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria and that if Hitler secured control over the.se countries Yugoslavia would also fall a victim to Naziism, and, with German control over the eastern shore of the Adriatic, Italy would be placed in a position where her professed friendship for Germany would avail hc-r nothing. * * * * The report that the Germans have launched another of Sheir H5,000ton battleships of the lirpitz and Bismarck class need not disturb the Allied peoples. For even with these three ships finished, which the}' are far from being yet, the Nazis will be able to oppose only; three l~>in gun ships to the battle fleets of the Allies, and these fleets are much more powerful. Britain, tor example, has two 33,000-fon ships (the Nelson and Rodney) which mount l'iin guns ten which mount eight loin guns, and two (the Renown and the Repulse) which mount six loin guns. And in addition Britain has two ships building which will mount lGin guns and live which will mount ten 14in guns. Germany already has two battleships with nine llin guns, and the two remaining "pocket-bat-tleships," 1 the Deutschland and Admiral Scheer, mounting six llin guns. France alone could outclass this fleet, even when the ships now building are completed. 1 he rrenen Navy includes the two battle cruisers Strasbourg and Fmnkerq-i 1 \ 2 <-

the Courbet and Paris, also 22,000 tonners, with twelve 12in guns, and the Lorraine with eight 1.3.4 in guns. In addition, there are four 35,000ton battleships building and they will each be armed with eight loin guns. That is to say. Britain and France already possess between tiiem 21 capital ships, ail ol lh:.-n; more heavily armed than any of the lour German ships known to be in commission, and all capable o»' Mowing these (,ut of t,lc v, ' aier before l,l °y are able to bring their 11 in guns to bear. Even alter the three German ships now building are completed, the odds against a new "Jutland will still be enormous, because Britain and France will own at least another six capital ships of cqtri' strength, an;! will be able to oppose these new vessels with twenty ships of comparable class.