Evening star., 1937-09-15
Fleet Will Be Organized
on Full War Time
Footing.
DETAILS FOR SEA POLICE
MAPPED IN CONFERENCE
Door Remains Open to Participa.
tion of Italy on England's
and Frances Terms.
BACKGROUND

ain, France and seuen other Medi-
| terrdnedn po,Cers for eradication of
| the submarine menace in that sea
has met NTH cool reception from
Germany and Italy. About so non
belligerent uessels, mostly British,
haoe been attacked by mysterious
n1drauders in the Mediterranean IN
| recent months.
BY the Associated Press.
| PARIS, September 15.-France and
Great Britain have modified nearly
200 warships in the Mediterranean In
their hunt for marine marauders.
Organized on q full wartime foot
| ing, the combined feet is to reach
its maximum strength within a week,
when all additions ordered for patrol
duty arrive.
Working in closest collaboration,
commanders Of the British and French
warships have laid plans to shift the
patrol fleets weight quickly to any
section where trouble might arise
thus backing with armed might the
nine-power anti-piracy agreement
reached at Nyon. Switzerland.
Special Fleet Is Sent.
France has ordered special fleet
Of "a destroyers to the Mediterranean
pirate hunt. and naval officials said
the full French feet in those waters
would back the extraordinary patrol,
II necessary.
Although reluctant to reveal the
exact power of Frances maritime
forces, French officials admitted that
with the patrol additions the French
Mediterranean concentration would
total 100-gun warships.
The fifth French destroyer division.
made up OF the Brestois, Boulonnais
and Foudroyart, is scheduled to steam
from Brest to bring the patrol deet
to full strength.
Britain's warships, with additional
patrol vessels ordered to spssd Into ths
Mediterranean within few days, viii
total more than 30 units.
Detailed patrol plans were mapped
today in conference at Oran, Algeria,
between commanders Of the French
and British fleets-vice Admiral Jean
Esteva and Admiral Sir Dudley Pound.
Appointment Of Vice Admiral Esteva,
inspector general Of the French naval
forces, as chief Of the French anti
pirate patrol was announced in
communique that also disclosed the
addition Of bombing planes and air
scouts to the sea searchers.
The plane transport Commandant
Teste, carrying scout planes and nomb-
ers, and further detachment of 10
scouts were assigned to the French
division Of the international patrol.
Mediterranean Patrol Pushed.
LONDON, September is R.-Brit-
ain and France refused today to delay
their patrol Of the Mediterranean
against submarine piracy because of
Italian objections to the Nyon accord
and announced that nine-power agree
ment would go into effect at once.
British and French warships al
ready in the Mediterranean were re-
ported authoritatively to have begun
securing the Mediterranean sea lanes
for undersea marauders without wait
ing for reinforcements.
Heavy additional naval units were
under orders to speed to the Medi-
terranean from Britain's home feet
and Frances Atlantic bases to bring
the total strength to nearly 200 men
o-war.
Informed sources said, however.
that the door was not closed to Italian
participation in the patrol If Italy
wishes to offer constructive sugees-
tions, although she has declined the
invitation to join the Nyon arrange
ment.
While Britain and France, sharing
responsibility for the entire Mediter-
ranean patrol, were said by informed
sources to be anxious to avoid hurting
Italian prestige in the Mediterranean.
there were no indications in official
circles of willingness to permit italy
to come in on basis of full equality
with the other two powers. -
The Nyon accord delegated to italy
the patrol of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and
Italians objected that this relocated
Rome to minor role.
Russia was reported reliably to be
determined to block Italian demands
tor parity in the international patrol
and to force virtal isolation of the ma
ton she has accused Of piracy.
Italy's protest that the patrol system
seems unacceptable" was based on
the immediate prospect of an Anglo
French war feet cruising the length
and breadth of body of water Italians
call "our sea" and the proposed rele-
cation of Italy to the patrol of a COM
oaratively obscure corner.
Would Have to Reopen Talks.
To meet the demand for parity with
other nations In whatever
,one Of the Mediterranean" delivered
20 the French and British Embassies z
n Rome last night, the nine European
bowers who mapped the patrol would
lave to reopen negotiations almost be-
ore the ink had dried on the Nyon
And even if they did there would
tand the Soviet Union, Italy's ac-
user, almost certain to oppose anv
OF Italy's patrol
Meanwhile there appeared thu
hreat of even further diplomatic dis
uroances growing out of the Spanish
;ivil War--a threat voiced in Rome
y some Fascist sources.
The next logical step, they said, was
or Italy to withdraw from the 27-
iation London Nom Intervention Conn
nittee that for months has tried Ia