Evening star., 1939-05-14
French Forces
Ready asD Duce
Speaks Today
Army Is on Alert
In Moginot Zone;
Ships in Position
The European Situation

PREMIER MUSSOLINI, speaking
today at Turin. is expected to give
France last chance to settle
Italy's claims, Follows above
StoryD
FRANCE HOLDS ARMY AND
NAVY in readiness as MuSSolini's
speech and Hitler's inspection of
forts foreshadow new tension.
Page Al
BRITISH CONCESSIONS to Rus
sia to join aggression bloc be-
lieved near as pressure on Prime
Minister Chamberlain grows.
Page Al
CHANCELLOR HITLER REPORT
ED planning to inspect fortiflca-
tions along French border this
week with party of Nazis.
Page Al
POLISH PROTEST TO DANZIG
carries warning to Germany that
rights in Free City will be fully
protected. Page A
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, May 13-France held her
military forces ready on land and
sea tonight in preparation for what
diplomatic circles considered likely
to be a week end of heightened in
ternational tension.
Her army was on the alert in
the Maginot zone along the eastern
frontier across from German forti-
f1cations which Chancellor Hitler
and high Nazi officers were reported
to have decided suddenly to inspect
early next week
A strong detachment of the
Mediterranean fleet moved late to-
day into Tunisian waters on the
eve of the speech Premier MuSSo-
llni of Italy is to deliver at Turin
tomorrow. The fleet movement
conceded with arrival of reports
here that II Duce would speak vio-
lently on strained Italian French
relations.
Daladier Sees Navy Chief.
During the two hours which it
took French warships to take up
positions in the Bay of Sebra at
Frances great naval base at Bizerte.
Tunisia. Premier Edouard Daladier
- was comforting with Navy Minister
Cesar Campinchi and Vice Admiral
Jean Darlan, commander in chief of
the navy.
M. Darlan had just returned to
Paris from an inspection of the
French Atlantic fleet, which was
being held to its base at BreGt.
The German fleet. returning from
Its maneuvers in Spanish waters
near Gibraltar at the entrance to
the Mediterranean, was believed to
be steaming up the Atlantic Coast
The French squadron which was
shifted to Tunisia. one of the
French-ruled territories in which
Mussolini has asked increased
Italian rights, had been on quiet
patrol mission in the Western
Mediterranean during the visit of
the German fleet
Four Cruisers Lead Squadron.
The squadron was led by four of
Frances newest cruisers, sister ships
built specifically to offset new Ger
man warships. They are La Sails
sonniere. the Jean de Vienne, the
Marsellaise and the Emile Bertin
There were also eight destroyers
which are ordinarily based at Tou-
Ion.
AS the Warships steamed to
Tunisia and II Duce prepared to
speak, French observers recalled it
was just a year ago today that
Premier Mussolini abruptly inter-
rupted friendship negotiations with
France. Since that time tension be-
tween France and Italy has in
creased steadily, with Fascists de-
manding share of Frances colonial
empire.
In the Maginot area along the
German frontier troops were re-
naming at their posts, although
some short leaves previously had
been granted Other contingents
already home on leave were expect
ed to start back to their regiments
tomorrow.
Japan Cheers France.
Meanwhile, French diplomatic
circles were cheered by reports from
Tokyo of new evidences that Japan
was reluctant to pledge close mill
tary cooperation with Germany and
Italy.
Dispatches said that while the
Japanese army was ready to CO.
operate with the Axis powers. the
navy, which would bear the brunt of
any conflict with powers outside
Asia. was fatty opposed to any closer
ties with European nations than the
anti-comintern pact.
Premier Daladier's declaration of
French policy before the French
Chamber of Deputies Thursday in
which he suggested France would
mobilize more men if the interna-
tional tension did not ease was said
by these sources to have strength
ened japanese opponents of Euro
pean involvement
Axis Powers Dissatisfied.
Both Rome and Berlin, according to
information received by the French
Foreign Ministry, are far from salts
fed with the japanese attitude.
Germany and Italy feel, French OBJ
servers said, that Japan's success
in the Far East would not have been
possible if they had not kept France
and Britain occupied by a series of
European crises.
Meanwhile, the French govern
ment. approving the pledge of
Britain and Turkey to aid one
(See PARIS, Page A-l29