Fate Of Italian Warships May Cause Storm

Chronicle (Levin), 18 June 1948, Page 5

Fate Of Italian Warships May Cause Storm

Reeeived Thursdav, 7.45 p.m. LONDON, June 17. Another storm between Eussia and the Western Powers i.s expected to blow np over Italv \s failure to eoniply with tlm l rnns oi' her poare troatv which ptipulate that she should sorap her t\\ o ballleships Italia and Vittorio Veneto by .1 mio 1."), 1948, and also that slio sliould dolivor eortain specified naval vossols fo Eussia and Frauce. So t'ar all the Italians have done has boon to romove the guns from the two bat t leships. They have made no movo to ma ko ilie vossels alloeatod to Russia soaworthy, coutending that the oxpenso of so doing is t do great for the Italian econoinv. Tlu; Russians are maintaining eom ploto siloiu-o about the matter, bnt the French press is alreadv complainiiuabout Italy's failure to deliver tlm sliips slie undertook to trausfor fo France. To date France has reeeived oue sloo]) and oue tanker from I taly, !mt a iiuinber of anxUIary vessols are also due. Russia is supposed to- receive from the 1'ormer Italian fieet oue remodolled battleship (the 24,000-ton (Juilio Cesarei oue cruiser, three destrovers. two submarines and 80 au.viliarv ships.

The Italia and Vittorio Yeuet, which at the ontlireak of war were the two most powerful baltleships in the world, were originally allocated to Britain and the Fnited States respeetivelv, but when these two countries voluntariiv renouiiced their clainis it was agreed that the two vessels should be scrapped by the Ttalians not later than .Tune .15 of ihis vear. Tt is now feared that as a result of the Ttalians' failure to eomply with the terms of the treaty Russians will demand that the two ships should forthwith be towed to sea and stink. Tliis would deprive tho Ttalians of valuable scra]i metal which they would obtain by breaking-down the two vessels. Rome reports indicate that tho Ttalians hoped American and British intervention would reduce the French and Russian claims and enable Italy to retain a larger part of her fleet than was originally stipulated. At presen! Italy has been allowed to maintain only four cruisers and destrovers and Ti? torpcdo boats.