The Washington times., 1936-05-06
THREAT OF WAR
STILL FACES
BRITAIN

for Great Britain, lOriteS H. r.
Knickerbocker, noted InternG-
tiogGl NeI0S SerVice foreign cor
respondent, in the toIlotDin0
articles, third OF his series, "Eu-
rope Skirts the Pit" Premier
MuSsolini, obSerDeS Knicker-
booker, has placed BritGin'S
great fleet in the most emb1r-
RAISING position it has faced in
q century of proud rule OF the
IDGUeSJ
BY II. r. KNTCKERBOCKER
Copyright 1895. by International
News Service)
LONDON, May 6.-Logic rules
that there should be no war be-
tween Great Britain and Italy
but today Europe realizes If there
is no war it means grave national
humiliation for Britain. For the
first time in more than a century
the British fleet in the Mediter-
ranean faces the necessity OF
turning tail and steaming home
with an untouched enemy jeering
the ignominious withdrawal.
Either that, or war.
If the fleet withdrawS, many
believe it means the turning point
for the British Empire. Ger.
tatnly Italy will believe it means
the end of British supremacy in
the Mediterranean. Brittania will
have ceased to rule the waves.
Make Fun Of Fleet
The Italians'a are making fund Of
the British fleet, anchored in the
eastern Mediterranean, as the
Italians put it, like flies on the
rim Of a saucer Of milk"
For seven months, two-thirds
Of the fighting strength Of the
British Navy, more than $50 war
vessels, more than 100000 tons
Of battleships, cruisers, deStroyerS
and aircraft carriers, have waited
at the mouth Of the Suez Canal,
for word from London to act to
stop the war in Abyssinia. For
seven months Italian ships
laden with guns and bombs and
men to kill Abyssinians have
sailed Serenely past and laughed
at the British officers standing
tightlipped on their gun-decks,
binoculars trained on the grin
ming enemy.
Not in modern times has Brit
ish patience been tried so hard.
Not since the Napoleonic wars
has British pride been so hard
hit. They say the British lose
every battle except the last. But
this Is the first time they have
threatened, a fight and quit.
Now the italian Duke Gennaro
Pagano Di Melito. retired naval
officer adds his voice to that Of
the man on the Roman street,
and publicly declares Britain is
afraid to fight.
eff Britain fights Italy, the
eastern Mediterranean will be
the grave Of the British fleet,
and will become q death trap
before the fleet can even make
. fight"
His booklet has shaken British
complacency. It has rubbed in
upon British consciousness just
how difficult their position is.
Britain, Of course, is not afraid
to fight. That, anyone resident
in these isles for half a day must
know. But If Europe gains the
impression that Britain is afraid
to fight there would seem to be
no way to correct the impression
save by fighting.
"Threat" Fails
When the fleet first sailed into
the Mediterranean Britain thought
the job was done. Nearly always
before the mere threat Of send
ing the fleet was enough to bring
around any recalcitrant nation.
Just 13 years ago that threat had
driven MuSSolini to evacuate Corfu.
Last October, Mussolini replied
to the fleet by bombing Adowa,
starting his war. To every new
British threat Mussolini replied
with a fresh blow to AbySsinia and
his press and people accompanied
each blow with whoops of derision
at Britain.
First the British tried to laugh
A AAA~