CRISIS IN PROSPECT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1939, Page 7

CRISIS IN PROSPECT

ANTICIPATIONS OF FRENCH IN MEDITERRANEAN GERMAN CONCENTRATIONS. OFFICERS SENT TO LIBYA. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, January 25. Well-informed circles in London and Paris fear a crisis within a month in the West Mediterranean, says Mr Vernon Bartlett, writing in the "News Chronicle,” and commenting on reports that German troops are concentrating at Klagenfurt and Villach and that German officers are already in Libya.

ITALIAN HECTORING

WARNING TO FRANCE FEARS REGARDING PYRENEES EXCESSIVE. (Received This Day. 10.25 a.m.) ROME, January 25. The “Informatione which is closely in touch with the Foreign Office, declares that French fears, regarding Italian volunteers in the Pyrenees are excessive and warns France that any further Russian or French intervention will force Italy to resume liberty of action.

ITALIAN FORCES

RESERVISTS CALLED' UP. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) ROME, January 25. It is officially announced that 60,000 1901 class reservists are being recalled on February 1.

JEERS AND TAUNTS. FRENCH AND ITALIAN SEAMEN IN COLOMBO. COLOMBO, January 25. The crews of the Italian steamer Conterosso and. the French steamer Marechai Joffre, berthed alongside here jeered and taunted one another today. The Italians tried to board the Marechal Joffre, but were repulsed with buckets of water. The harbour police restored order. MILITARY ACTIVITY AN OFFICIAL DENIAL. SOME OF THE OLDER CLASSES RECALLED. (Independent Cable Service.) ROME, January 25. It is officially denied that large-scale military activity is under way, but it is admitted that some of the older classes which did not serve in the World War have been partially recalled for special training. The newspapers, concentrating on Spain, all declare that Barcelona’s fate is sealed, and again accuse France of helping the republicans. “SPANISH” AVIATORS. BELIEVED TO BE ITALIANS. (Independent Cable Service.) ORAN. January 25. Five military aviators were picked up by a British freighter from a wrecked tri-motor seaplane and brought to Oran. When questioned by the French naval authorities, the officers replied, “We are Spanish.” They said that they ran out of fuel. The French noticed, however, that they spoke Spanish peculiarly and all have been detained. It is believed that the machine was an Italian one returning -after bombing Valencia, which was forced down by anti-aircraft guns en route to its base. GERMAN ARMS FOR REBELS. 40 BATTERIES OF GUNS SENT.

(Independent Cable Service.) PARIS. January 25. The Basque Government delegation states that 40 batteries of German 6.5 centimetre guns were unloaded recently at Pasajes. They are still being tested in the San Sebastian area near the French frontier. It is added that during December 30,000 tons of German war materia) was unloaded in Vigo and concentrated in Victoria. CRASH IN PYRENEES CREW OF FIVE PERISHES. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day. 11.25 a.m.) PARIS, January 25. A rebel bomber, of German make, crashed in the Pyrenees and its crew of five perished. TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. REPUBLICAN ASSURANCES. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, January 25. Mr Ralph Stevenson raised with the Republican Government the question of the maintenance of order, in the event of a withdrawal of forces from Barcelona, and especially the position of political prisoners. He received assurances that all possible steps would be taken to maintain order and make secure the lives of prisoners, who are believed to number 2,000. WARSHIPS STANDING BY. READY TO REMOVE NATIONALS. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, January 25. The cruiser Devonshire is standing by at Barcelona in order to evacuate members of the British Consulate if necessary. The Devonshire has been joined by American and French warships.