Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-12
Duee Strengthening
Army Against Spread
Of European War
1873, 800, 900 Fund Used;
Motorized Guns Mukinq
AZ NJ. P. H. Reported
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
ROME. Nov. 11.-Premier Musso-
lini, backed by 1taly's latest $873,-
100000 arms appropriation, rapidly
is strengthening his army against
the danger of the European war
spreading to the Mediterranean.
1taly's large air force is being in
creased
Motorized guns said to be capable
Of 48 miles an hour over highways
and "a miles an hour over open
fields are being manufactured as
rapidly as possible.
Three thousand lieutenants and
on-commissioned officers, for the
most part seasoned veterans of the
Ethiopian and Spanish wars, have
been named combat leaders around
whom any necessary new units would
be formed.
Strengthening Forces Feverishly.
Authoritative Italians indicate II
Duce is strengthening the armed
forces feverishly but intends to use
them primarily to ward OH any
threat.
Gen. Giacoma Carboni, italian
military expert, writing in La
Stampa of Turin, declared the "dy-
manic temperament" of the new
chiefs of staff in the army and air
force showed Mussolini did not in
tend to permit Italy's position as a
spectator in the present war to
"crystallize in a passive attitude"
Marshal Rodolfo GRAHAM and
Gen. Francesca Pricolo were given
the army and air force posts Octo-
Der 81.
II Duce, who holds the portfolios
OF war, navy and air, is known to
support the theory that a strong
army reinforces diplomacy, and a
ruler with powerful military force
behind him is in good position to
safeguard peace.
Weak Points Patched Up.
There have been unconfirmed re-
ports that during maneuvers last
August Mussolini found the army
below the high efficiency he had set
for it. If these reports are true, the
Italians have had time to put their
army on war footing during the
last two months and to patch up
weak points by rushing the develop
ment of modern arms.
Fascists experts describe the ar
mament program as intended to
make the Italian Army ready to
strike with violence and rapidity If
need be. A swift war long has been
Italian tactical policy.
New guns, big and small that roll
along highways or over open ground
under their own power, are the
latest additions in strengthening the
ground troops. Mussolini tested the
mobility of the new guns by pilot
ing one.
The new artillery y mounted on
special motor vehicles with bullet
proof rubber tires. The wheels may
be lifted automatically, allowing the
guns to leave the road and crawl
over open country on tractor treads
similar to those on tanks. "a.
Guns Make 4S Miles an Hour.
Guns of medium caliber were re-
ported to have made 48 miles an
hour on highways and "a in open
fields
Small field pieces are propelled by
motors in their gun carriages. Heavy
guns are moved by electric motors
with power generated in separate
trucks and conducted to guns by
flexible cables. This makes quick
shifts possible, eliminating waits for
gasoline, tractors or horses.
On reaching a combat site, the
heavy guns can be anchored swiftly
In the ground.
Experiments with motorized guns
were made during the World War,
experts said, but the gunfire shook
the motors out of commission. The
Italians said this difficulty has been
eliminated.