MENACING WORDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1938, Page 9

MENACING WORDS

MUSSOLINI ON IMPENDING CAMPAIGN MYSTERIOUS STATEMENT TO SENATORS. APPARENT REFERENCE TO WAR. ROME, March 31. A mysterious reference to another “impending campaign” on behalf of the Italian empire is reported to have been made by Signor Mussolini when receiving a number of senators in the Palazzo Venezia after his Senate speech. After thanking them for raising him to the new rank of Marshal of the Empire, he added: “This new appointment increases my responsibility for the third great victorious campaign of the empire in which I shall lead you.” The first two campaigns are presumed to be Abyssinia and Spain. SUPPOSED HINTS TO FRANCE . & BRITAIN. FASCIST CIRCLES PUZZLED. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, March 31. The purpose of Signor Mussolini’s speech and the question whom it is aimed against, is causing considerable speculation in the British press. The “Manchester Guardian” considers that it is a warning to France not to intervene while Genera! Franco finishes off the loyalists and a reminder to Mr. Chamberlain that Italian intervention in Spain must not be allowed to interfere with the Anglo-Italian conversations. The sentences, for instance: “Certain passes are . being hermetically sealed and the whole great circle of the Alps will be impassable,” suggest a warning to Germany not to presume too far on the famous RomeBerlin axis. The British United Press correspondent. at Rome says Fascist circles are frankly puzzled by Signor Mussolini’s pointed references to a third campaign, second thoughts admittedly giving the words a more sinister ring. Fascists confess that the speech reveals serious preoccupation with the possibility of European war. Foreign diplomats place heavy emphasis on the following reference to defence against bombing: “All able to organise their existence in the smaller cities and towns throughout the country would do well to carry it out now and not wait for the zero hour. If something happens to-morrow, everything interfering with mobilisation will be forbidden, which will be so much the worse for The negligent and tardy.

Observers interpret this grave warning as an indication that Signor Mussolini considers that the zero hour is approaching. FASCIST BLUSTER. “PEOPLE WHO MEAN TO START WAR.” (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) ROME, March 31. Signor Mussolini’s reference to a third campaign is generally accepted to mean a warning of stringent measures to suppress the enemies of Fascism at home and abroad. The “Gazeta Del Popolo” says: “During the last few days Britain and France have shown that there are people who mean to start a war against Fascism. Very well. Fascism has uttered its warning through the mouth of the Duce.”