ITALIANS TALK WAR

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 421, 1 August 1928, Page 1

ITALIANS TALK WAR

Smouldering Balkan Fires

CAN MUSSOLINI HOLD NATION ?

Belligerent Feeling Fostered

(United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Received 11.45 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. A “DAILY EXPRESS ’ special correspondent, who spent some weeks in Italy, says that though warlike feeling is rife throughout the country, he does not believe that Signor Mussolini wants to risk a war, which, if it went wrong, would end Fascism.

But lie wonders whether the Duce will be strong enough to check the people, who are being ted on war-like propaganda. Fascist and non-Fascist Italy alike are awaiting the opportunity of a fight with Serbia. Italian children are being taught to regard France as an effete and decayed nation, whose possessions must come to Italy, and that Britain is on its last legs; but that for the time being they must be friendly toward Britain, owing to the British Navy. The feeling against Jugo-Slavia is a real danger to the peace of Europe. The Serbs will not fight at present, be-

cause they are without heavy artillery. The recent disturbances in Jugoslavia show the extent of the antiItalian feeling, and the nationalistic feeling in Venice is only comparable to that in Berlin in 1913-14. There is a movement to separate Montenegro from Jugo-Slavia. One of the Queen’s brothers is ready to declare himself king of that state when Signor Mussolini says the word. This will supply a match to _t tie smouldering fires in the Balkans. The Press is demanding the return of Corsica, Nice, Savoy and Malta to Italy.