ITALIANS LEAVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 143, 17 May 1940, Page 5

ITALIANS LEAVE

EXODUS FROM TURKEY. BRITONS LEAVE ROME. SENATE TO MEET. (United Press Association—By Electric Teiegrapn—Copyright.) Received May 17, 10.5 a.m. LONDON., May 16. The correspondent of tlie Associated Press of Great Britain, in a message from Istanbul, states that the exodus of Italians lias begun. Italians employed in Turkish factories and ships have given notice that they are leaving immediately.

A message from Rome says British and Scottish students have departed for Britain. ' The Senate is to meet to-morrow morning at 9.30. It is officially announced that, Signor Mussolini has received a message of a personal character from President Roosevelt.

Athens reports that Greek troops at Piraeus (the chief port of Greece) have begun embarkation and disembarkation exercises. There are similar exercises at other ports. A Zurich message says British Consulate officials have advised British residents to temporarily change their residence from what might become a military zone. Switzerland’s fears of a German invasion are epitomised in the comment of the Neue Zuricher Zeitung—“The eleventh hour has struck for Switzerland !”

German aerial activity over Switzerland has increased the general anxiety. Swiss anti-aircralt guns hit a German bomber which made a forced landing north of Zurich. Two more German bombers were earlier chased away from Swiss territory. German and Swiss military authorities have closed the frontier from Basle to Lake Constance. The German authorities have not allowed Swiss peasants to cross even a few feet over the frontier to tend their fields. . . The Rome-Berlin Express, which normally crosses the irontier north from Scliaffhausen, was diverted across the old Austrian frontier. A Swiss communique urges public calmness and adds that vigilance is not