REINFORCEMENTS IN THE DODECANESE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 188, 6 May 1940, Page 10

REINFORCEMENTS IN THE DODECANESE

LONDON. May 3. , .There is an ominous assembly of significant reports, from the Eastern Mediterranean tonight. Though lacking official chatacter they emphasize the delicacy of the situation. It is reported from Athens that Italian troops, warships, and fitting planes are concentrating in the Dodecanese Islands, specially at Rhodes, and that between 50,000 and _5a.000 Italian troops have reinforced the normal Dodecanese garrison. Fifteen submarines are reported to be at Rhodes. . The reported massing of troops, warships, and aircraft m the Dodecanese Islands coincided with the arrival of strong squadrons of the Allied Fleets at Alexandria. » Italy is reported to have 1,200.000 troops tinder aims, excluding reinforcements in the Dodecanese. - At Alexandria there is a state of absolute readiness, lhe coastal batteries have been manned and military flying is restricted. The air force will be ready for instant call. Army and police leave has been stopped and other precautions include an air watch in the desert. A chain of lonely sentinels of the Egyptian army is linked by telephone from the western frontier of Egypt to the Nile Delta. The black-out is continuing at Malta.

- The tone of the Italian Press is harsh and belligerent. Newspapers publish the news of the movement of the Allied Fleets, but give first place to “the Allies’ cruel defeats in Norway, which are the first hard blow at proud Albion.” The newspaper “L’Avora Faseista” says: “The myth of Britain’s invincible naval power is gone, and.it hardly seems timely to attempt to intimidate Italy.”

Several British merchantmen are reported to have left Italian ports. Italian ships continue to operate according to schedule. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain states that Herr von Mackensen returned from Rome and conferred with Herr Hitler. It is reliably stated that he brought a message from Signor Mussolini.

According to political quarters, the correspondent stated, a German thrust in the Balkans will not be long delayed, because “now that Britain’s plan in Scandinavia lias misfired she is going to try her luck in the Mediterranean.” Authorized commentators and Press comment indicated that Germany . is preparing to be confronted with action in the Mediterranean and possibly in the Balkans.