The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-18
Britain, France Are
 Bolstering Up Front
tContinued from Page D


 Gafencu to make it clear whether Rumania was throwing herself fully into the anti-aggression front which the Reich views an attempt to en- circle Germany.
 Gafencu was understood to have taken part in consultations with Poland in regard to the attitude of the two countries toward an agree- ment by which Soviet Russia long feared by both--would aid them in event of alta k by the Totalitarian Bloc. >a-
 Rome was busy strengthening ties of the NaZi-Fascist Bloc. Premier Count Paul Teleki and foreign min- ister Count Stephen Csaky of Hun- gary arrived in Rome in a move ex- pected to bring strong pressure on Budapest to join completely with Germany and Italy. The Hungarian government has been reluctant to take such a step and Poland, as an Ally of Hungary, has sought to swing the Budapest regime over to the anti-aggrecsion front as means of protection against economic vas- salage to Berlin.
 Greece, Turkey Pool Forces
 Greece and Turkey were reported to have pooled their fighting forces for joint action in event of war in the Balkans and the Netherlands government was said to be consider ing extension of the term of military service as a defensive precaution.
 In London, plans were announced for an emergency system to feed the population of the united king dom in event of war and in Paris the council of ministers under Pres ident Albert Lebrun surveyed the international developments and heard Premier Edouard DaIadier warn that France must maintain constant vigilance.
 Powerful Nazi Fleet
 Berlin, April 18-(UP) A com pact, powerful German battle fleet left today for a months spring cruise" of the Spanish, Portuguese and Spanish Moroccan coast as British and French fleets massed in the Western Mediterranean.
 About 40 fleet units, including 28 fighting craft, left home ports-Kiel, on the Baltic, and Wilhelmshaven and Emden on the North Sta-dur- ing the early hours of the morning under orders to meet at sea and steam down through the North Sea and English Channel to the Bay of Biscay for their cruise.
 It was understood that they would engage in battle maneuvers out in the Atlantic and the possibility had been suggested that units of the Spanist Nationalist fleet might con- tact them.
 Two pocket battleships-the H. inch gun, heavily armored cruisers which are new type of fighting craft-two light cruisers, six deS- troyers and IS submarines were in the fleet. In addition there were Auxiliary units.
 German naval spokesmen said that one pocket battleship might enter the Mediterranean and visit Malaga, Spain, but denied there was any startegic significance in the cruise. It was asserted that if Ger many anticipated an emergency the fleet would be in home waters.
 Cruise plans call for visits at various Spanish, Portuguese and Spanish Moroccan ports and at the internationalized port of Tangier.
 MussOlini Decision
 Rome, April IS (U.Po - A high Fascist source reported today that Premier Benito Mussolini in- tended to ignore President Roose- velt's appeal for peace and let Adolf Hitler speak for the Berlin-Rome "axis" in his address to his Nazi Reichstag April 28.
 According to the informant, Mus Solini was "disgusted" at the tone and content of the presidents mess age to him and Hitler, and had agreed with the Nazi Fuehrer that the best course was not to reply to it formally.
 Fascist quarters said they under stood that Hitler told Musoslini he would make an adequate reply. in his Reichstag speech.
 This message, 1t was said, was conveyed by telephone to Field Mar shal Hermann Goering, who left Rome last night after visit to Mussolini, and was relayed by Goer- ing to Musoslini.
 It was alleged that MusoSlini was still angry because during the Czechoslovak crisis in September the president circulated European leaders urging peace but did not in- clude Mussolini.
 This explanation of Mussolini's decision was calculated to clear up confusion regarding "axiS" policy. It had been reported consistently that Mussolini and Hitler had agreed on the manner of their reply. Presum- ably Fascists interpreted this to mean that the Fascist and Nazi leaders would make similar replies. Then Hitler called the ReichStag session and 1t was apparent that this presumption was unwarranted.
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