Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-06
Musso|ini |nspects
Planes, Recruits at
Adriatic Seaport
Fascist Press ProcIoims
ItoIy Is Prepared
For Anything
ey the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
ROME, April 6.-Premier Mus
solini few early this morning TO
the military airport Of JEST, near the
Adriatic seaport of Ancona, where
he reviewed planes and new re-
cruits.
The premier piloteu a tri-motored
bomber to the airport near a point
that overlooks the sea toward AL
bania.
The Fascist press proclaimed that
Italy was ready for anything at any
moment" though the newspapers
were silent concerning Albania.
The newspapers, however, dis
played prominently communicate
saying Italian-German military
talks were proceeding at Innsbruck
in Germany.
II Duce appeared on balcony al
JEST after inspecting the airport and
saluted the crowd but did not make
q speech.
The communlque announcing his
visit laid no emphasis on the mill
tary phase of his fast trip, which
struck foreign observers as impor-
tant in view of the uncertain stu
alton between Italy and Albania.
He took off at 1915 m. and not
withstanding the bad weather over
the Apprentices reached Littorio Air
port at Rome, a l30-mile hop, at
lilo am.
Many diplomats believed that
military talks yesterday and today
between Gen Alberto Pariani. chief
of the Italian general staff, and Col.
Gen. Wilhelm Keitel chief of the
high command of German armed
forces. concerned an ItalianGer-
man plan involving Albania.
Italians Leave Albania.
Reports from Tirana. Albanian
capital. OF an exodus of Italian res
idents, including business men,
strengthened the belief of some Dip
lonats that military operations were
in prospect
Albanian officials said their little
army was taking suitable military
precautions
Authoritative Italians said this
forenoon that they were without
word of any italian troop landings
in Albania. and the newspapers
continued to refrain from any men,
ton of Albania.
The fact was cited that Pariani
was chief military adviser to
Albania TO: five years. from 1927
to 1882. He is said to have the best
military knowledge of King Zog's
mountainous realm.
The communique issued by
Stefani official Italian news agency,
merely said
Meetings between Gen. Keitel.
chief of the German superior mill
tary command. and Gen. Pariani,
chief of staff of the Italian Army,
are taking place April S and s."
Objective of Italy Unknown.
Diplomats were deeply puzzled as
to the end of be gained by any oc-
cupa ton of the 10,629 -square-mile
Mohammedan kingdom lying at its
nearest point about so miles across
the Adriatic from the heel of the
Italian boot.
They pointed out that Italy
alreacy had virtually complete con-
troll of the country's natural re-
sources and that with her fortifica-
tons on isles off the Albanian coast
Adriatic.
They were inclined to believe that
occupation of Albania. if undertaken
really would be move directed at
countries other than King Zog's
land of 1.003l24 inhabitants.
These sources. on the other hand,
could not conceive of it as thrust
against Yugoslavia, for Albania's
mountains make the land route into
Yugoslavia virtually unusable for a
large army. Yugoslavia's Serbs also
are known as among the best fighters
OF Europe.
Yugoslavias northern frontiers,
however, front both Italy and Ger
man Austria and any Italian mill
tary occupation of Albania on her
southern border would give Yugo-
slavia something to worry about in
event of joint German-Italian
'pincher movement
Numerous Germans live in Yugo-
slavia's northern region, as we'll as
5000 900 disaffected Croats who have
been demanding autonomy.
May Be Pressure on Greece.
Some diplomats said the occupa-
ton conceivably might be under
taken to bring pressure on Greece
and might be connected with re-
ports - wholly unconfirmed - that
Britain had sounded out Greece re-
garding establishment of naval bases
there.
Albanian officials have declared
they would resist any threat to the
kingdoms MISREPRESENTATION S
army numbers 1906 men and 812
officers; her navy" consists of four
coastal motor boats.
The Albanians gained their indie
pendence in 1912 after AS years of
Turkish rule They made Ahmed
Fog president in 1925 when a re-
public was proclaimed and King in
1928 when the Constituent Assembly
turned the republic into monarchy.
In 1927 Albania and Italy signed
q 20-year defensive alliance which,
Italians say, Zog now has asked to
be strengthened.
That request was reported the sub
ject of hasty conferences at Rome
and Tirana by Gen. Zef Sereggia,
Albanian Minister to Italy. He flew
back to Rome yesterday, leaving the
43-year-old Fog and his ministers
in a conference that ran into last
night.
Troops at Brindisi.
Fog and his ministers studied Ital-
Ian proposals for the so-called
strengthening" of the military al
lance while Italian troops were con-
centrated at Brindisi. just across the
Adriatic strait of Otranto from AL
bania.
At Brindisi last night it was said