ITALY TO ESTABLISH MILITARY PROTECTORATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1939, Page 7

ITALY TO ESTABLISH MILITARY PROTECTORATE

Reported Accord with King Zog TROOPS CONCENTRATED AT THREE PORTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, April 6. Italy has officially informed the Yugoslav Government that an Italian protectorate will be established in Albania, and that Italian troops will land at the Albanian ports of Valona, Durazzo and Scutari. It is stated in Rome that Italy will establish a military protectorate in Albania in fact but not in name as soon as Signor Mussolini and King Zog have completed the negotiations for the-necessary accord. It is learned that between 40,000 and 50,000 Italian troops are concentrated at Bari, Brindisi and Ancona ready to sail for Albania as soon as the agreement “authorising the occupation” has been signed. This is expected late today or early tomorrow. The correspondent of the British United Press in Tirana, capital of Albania, says it is understood that Italians are evacuating the city in three specially chartered ships, one leaving during the night and the others at 10 a.m. Italo-Albanian ship and air services have been suspended. Italians unable to leave are accomodated at the Legation. Guests at the principal hotel in Tirana, the Continental, were placed in the street with their luggage and told that the hotel was closing because of the departure of the Italian staff.