ITALIAN ARMY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20732, 16 February 1939, Page 9

ITALIAN ARMY

TO STAY IN SPAIN? CIVILIAN LABOUR CORPS STRATEGIC POINTS ARMED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrtghr PARIS, Feb. 15 _ Observers see the possibility of Signor Mussolini's keeping his army in Spain at the end of the war by turning it- into a “civilian labour corps.” This links up with the formation of the Societa de Mediterraneo, a new company which has been formed in Rome to build roads, railways, electricity and water plants in Spain, usin =r Italian workmen, as C.enoral Franco is likely to be short of labour. The supply of Italian labour to General Franco is an important point. The general plan is to demobilise the troops and then immediately form a ! labour corps, storing their arms at strategic points. The men will be j subject to the same discipline as in the army. REPORTED RESIGNATION PRESIDENT OP SPAIN DEFEATED TROOPS RETREATING (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 15 The newspaper Midi asserts that Don Manuel Azana has resigned the Presidency of Spain. Officials of the Spanish Embassy deny the report. It is impossible to make contact with Don Manuel at present. A despatch from Perpignan states that to-day will see the last Republican troops from Catalonia across the frontier. The retreat is being executed in splendid order. Nationalists allege that the Republicans before evacuating Llers blew up a magazine, causing the death of nearly all the villagers. Nationalist airmen caused only minor damage in a raid on the naval base at Cartagena, but 100 people were killed and 200 injured in a raid on Jativa, near Valencia. Franco Angry With Italy An unconfirmed report to the effect that General Franco forthrightly expressed anger to Italy for the bombardment of Minorca, during the visit to the island of the British cruiser Devonshire to allow negotiations to take place between the Nationalists and the Republicans for the peaceful surrender of the island, is cabled by Reuter's Burgos correspondent. REFUSAL TO RETURN THE PRESIDENT OF SPAIN 3 40,000 REFUGEES IN FRANCE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright(Received Feb. IG, 1 p.m.) PARIS, Feb. 15 Senor del Yayo arrived by air. He urged Don Azana, the President, to return to Madrid. It is understood that Don Azana declined. General Miaja, reporting to Don Azana, emphasised the strength of the Republican defences and insisted on bis ability to maintain resistance if supplies were assured from abroad. It is officially announced that there are 340,000 Spanish refugees throughout France. I*o.ooo soldiers, 08,000 children, G 3.000 women, 20,000 aged people and 10,000 wounded.