OMINOUS SIGNS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1940, Page 6

OMINOUS SIGNS

IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN HECTORING TALK IN ITALIAN PRESS. SNEERING REFERENCES TO BRITAIN. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day. 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 3. There is an ominous assembly of significant reports from the Eastern Mediterranean tonight. Although lacking an official character, they emphasise the delicacy of the situation. Italy is reported to be massing troops, warships and aircraft in the Dodecanese Islands coinciding with the arrival of strong squadrons of the Allied fleets at Alexandria. Italy is reported to have 1.200,000 men upder arms, excluding flic reinforcements to the Dodecanese Islands. Alexandria is in a state of absolute readiness. The coastal batteries are manned. Military flying is restricted, and the Air Force will /be ready for an instant call. Army and police leave has been stopped. Other precautions include a desert air watch, in which a chain of lonely Egyptian Army sentinels is linked by telephone from the western frontier of. Egypt to the Nile Delta. The blackout is continuing in Malta. Yugoslavia is a centre of speculation as a possible touchstone Tor any action in the Mediterranean. Italy has already protested against Yugoslavia’s recent defence measures, but Belgrade officials point out that they are due to the arrival of Italian workmen on the .Albanian frontier, who are generally believed to be troops. Yugoslavian officials and Italian and German diplomatic circles tonight declared that nothing had happened to alter the character of Yugoslavia’s non-aggres-sion treaties with Italy and Germany. The tone of the Italian Press is harsh and belligerent. The newspapers publish news of the movement of the Allied fleets, but give the first place to the “Allies’ cruel defeats in Norway, which is the first hard blow to proud Albion.” "Lavora Fascista” says: “The myth that Britain <s an invincible naval power has gone. It hardly seems timely to attempt to intimidate Italy.” >. Several British merchantmen are reported to have left Italian ports. Italian ships continue to operate to schedule.