The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-08
FRENCH, ITALO
 RIOTS IN TUNIS
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sive troop movements.
 Balbo, 1t was said, had heavily re- inforced Nault, Sinauet and Ga- danes, Italy's westernmost outposts of Tripolitania opposite the French defense lines in the Gran-i-erg desert.
 Quarter of Million Troops
 Nearly 25o,OOO Italian and French troops, it was estimated, now face each other across the desert border, backed for a hundred miles on each side by the most modern war equip ment produced in European arsenals.
 At the southermost tip of Tunisia, the French have reinforced Fort Saint, just across the border from Gadames, while in the north, CO., lonial troops and soldiers of the for eign legion fully man all strongholds of the new French 'Maginot" line based on Gabes, from where motor roads run to all sectors of the from tier, enabling swift and easy move ment of troops, tanks and artillery.
 Italian Consul General Michele Silibani announced today that he would protest to French authorities against anti-Italian demonstrations and would give notice that unless the demonstrations ceased Italians living in Tunis would put themselves in "a state of legitimate defense"
 New Outbreaks last Night
 Silimbani decided to protest after a new outbreak last night during which 1000 French railroad workers and a scattering of Arabs marched to the Italian consulate general and threw bottles of red and blue ink at | it's white walls, so as to mark it with tho French red, white and blue col- orS.
 One bottle went through a T1l- dow, the consul general said, and smeared 8 picture of King Victor Emmanuel.
 Consul General Silibani had just returned to Tunis from Rome, where he conferred with Count Galeazzo Ciano, foreign minister, on the po- sition of Italy regarding Tunis.
 Announcing to local Fascists his intention to protest against last nights demonstration, which follow ed extensive anti-Italian demonstra- tions last week end, the consul gen. eral said:
 Italian May Retaliate
 "I intend to protest to resident General Erik Labonne within the next 48 hours, and to say that if the violence does not cease then Italians in Tunis must put tn .m- selves in a state of legitimate de- fense.
 "This naturally would be purely a defensive measure"
 In their demonstration last night, the railroad workers and the Arabs sang the Marseillaise, the French nation anthem, as they marched on the consulate general. Riot squads of French police were called out. They dispersed the demonstrators as Italians milled about, booing and catcalling the Marseillaise. Despite the angry situation, there was only an exchange of fisticuffs among a few persons in the crowd.
 Earlier yestreday, French and 1tal- fist fights on thei rway to and from ian school children had engaged in school, and had bombarded each other with stones.
 Protests Jew Attacks
 Felix Samana, president of the Tunisian Jewish community, visited the resident general yestreday and protested against "the daily attacks in Tunisia against Jews" He ap- pealed to French authorities to pre- vent the Italian anti-Jewish cam paign from harming Tunisian Jews.
 "Jews have been loyal to France he said.
 Arriving in Tunis to investigate the situation brought about by the Italian anti-French campaign, and the clamor of Italian crowds for French Tunis, Corsica, Nice and Savoy, found that Italians had not repaired windows which were broken in demonstrations Sunday. Ap- parently they wanted to leave the broken windows as @ reminder to their compatriots. I saw but a few broken windows, however, including those in the offices of the Italian Air Line and in bookshop which displayed a picture of Premier Benito Mussolini review sailors.
 Frenchmen said they intended to