Evening star., 1934-02-15
STATION
TROOPS ON BORDER
$4,000 Soldiers Are Moved
to Strategic Points on
Austrian Frontier.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ROME. February 15.-Ready for
any eventuality, $4,000 Italian troous
are posted today at strategic points
along the Austrian frontier.
In addition. Fascist frontier guards
are watching the Austrian situation
closely from border points.
Government officials, however. em-
phasized that these troops have not
been placed as a result of develop-
ments across the line
They have been moved up during
the last five months as a part of a
fundamental change in Italian mill.
tary policy, 1t Is explained.
Previously these troops were con-
centrated in cities further to the
south, chiefly Verona and Padua.
Deny Invasion Intention.
Although Italian officials refused to
commit themselves on the govern
ment's intentions in the event of
further trouble. it was said today that
Italy has no intention of invading
Austria-even should the Socialists
gain the upper hand over Chancellor
GABtlDeIt OOlIuSS.
The troops are concentrating prin-
cipally at Bolzano, Udine and Trieste.
Bolzano recently was made an army
corps headquarters
Although this center Is onlv as
miles from the Austrian border, %. 900
men are stationed there.
From Bolzano, observers pointed
out, troops could penetrate into Aus
tria from the Brenner and San Can
dido Passes, through which there are
excellent train connections.
Well informed persons maintain
that Italy's interest in Austria as re-
CARDS the present disorders is to pre-
vent her from uniting with Germany.
semi = official newspapers have
pointed out frequently that In the
event OF such union, Italy would be
faced with a new strong power where
Little Austria" is now.
The Social Democrats austrian
Socialists) would prevent such a union
II they came into power even as
Chancellor Dollfuss Is attempting IN
do it is said here.
Controls Tarviseo Pass.
What the Italian attitude would be
II the Austrian Nazis should attack
the Dollfuss government, however. is
quite another question.
Udlne Is headquarters for what is
known as the Division Celere. or
hght division. 1t is made I'D of 5000
men. The unit is highly motorized
and capable Of moving rapidly.
Thls point controls the Tarviseo
Pass.
1t is estimated there are more than
10000 Italian soldiers in and around
Trieste. which is close to the Piedj-
cole Pass on the Austrian frontier,
with good railroad connections.
Omcials, however, emphasized that
there has not been any concentration
Of troops within the last few days or
since the outbreak Of the Austrian
civil warfare.
Fascist frontier guards have been
strengthened, however.
This fact has no connection with
the possible invasion of Austria. but
might more accurately be interpreted
as a concentration in connection with
the possibility OF Socialists trying
fee across the Italian border.
Italy does not want them.
Transfer Explained.
A foreign Office spokesman said til.
news from Vienna today was reassur-
ing and indicated that the Dollfuy.
government had gained control of the
situation
This spokesman repeated that thero
has been no concentration Of troop
ordered within the last few days and
that what movements Of troops there
has been recently toward the Aus
trian frontier has been in consequence
OF military transfers begun last Sep
tember
The reason for these transfers was.
it was explained. that mountains be-
tween former military posts and
Verona, Padua and other points made
troop movements to the frontier diff
fcult. Therefore military leaders de-
cided to permanently station larger
bodies closer TO the frontier for
stragegic reasons.
Newspaper commenting editoriallv
on the Austrian situation today agree
in saying that Dollfuss will emerge
from his present difficulties stronger
than before.