ITALY PREPARES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 158, 4 June 1940, Page 7

ITALY PREPARES.

SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS. Received June 4, 11.45 a.m. LONDON,'June 3. The British United Press Rome correspondent says the evacuation of bairacks and other military centres in Rome has begun in accordance with Signor ' Mussolini’s plan to declare the capital an open city in the event ot war. Various departments, some Government ministries, are evacuating. The Italian Government announces the indefinite postponement of the Rome 1942 Exhibition because several nations have requested an extension of time in which to prepare exhibits.” '■■V TERRITORY SOUGHT. PROBABLE NAZI PRESSURE. LONDON, June 3. It is announced from Rome that a resolution reported to be supported by 70,000 workmen in Trieste demands Corsica, Nice and Malta for Italy, and also ‘ ‘liberation of the Mediterranean from the piracy of the owners of Gibraltar, Suez and Djibouti.” The resolution adds: “AVe are ready for a war of liberation at the Duce’s orders, with the certainty of victory and glory.” 'A coloured map with Corsica labelled Italian is being displayed in the streets. The semi-official Paris newspaper Le Temps expresses surprise at suggestions that Italy must'inevitably intervene on the side of Germany. It says all such views are merely suppositions, hut admits that Germany is probably exerting heavy pressure on Italy. Jt adds that nobody knows how Italy will react to’ this. Differences of internal political systems did not # • constitute an obstacle to good French-Italian and Ital-ian-Britisli relations. It was difficult to believe that Signor Mussolini and his compatriots would fail to weigh their responsibilities in this most tragic crisis for civilisation. The Daily Telegraph, quotes a Rome report that all Italian airline services between Rhodes and Basra have been suspended. Crown Prince Umberto, Commander-in-Chief in the northern area, has arrived at Genoa, 100 miles from the French frontier. He is due to hold an inspection of grenadiers on the reserve list. Prince Umberto is to carry out a similar inspection at Fiume, on the Adriatic, next week-end. . EGYPTIANS* ALERT'. MANY ARRESTS MADE. , • CAIRO, June 3. The police have made many, arrests in Cairo and also in Alexandria, where the Italian population numbers 60,000. One raid in Cairo brought in 600 undesirables, many of whom were sent to a concentration camp. The . Garde Mobile has carried out exercises for the protection of bridges and reservoirs. Plans for martial law are complete.