Evening star., 1939-02-22


By the Associated Press.
PARIS, Feb. 22.-Dispatches from
Tunis today said all French troops
throughout the TuniSia protectorate
had been ordered to remain in bar
racks as reports persisted OF clash
between French and italian troops
last Friday on the Tunisia-Libya
border
French officers were said to have
left their homes and moved into
barracks with their troops to be
ready to march at moments notice.
Reports of the clash, which put
italian casualties at 80 men killed
and French at killed, were denied
by the Paris foreign Office. A spokes-
man said:
I'VE cannot confirm the report
and, in fact. we will give you an
official denial"
Gn Rome Italian officials said
reports of French-Italian
armed clash on the Tunisian
frontier were untrue. They said
there had been no clash of any
kind and characterized reports
of conflict with heavy casual
ties as absurd They added there
were no concentrations of Italian
troops near the frontierD
The reports were received in Paris
diplomatic circles and also came
through private channels from
Tunis
Staff Conference Called.
At Algiers. in the French province
adjoining Tunisia, Gen. August No.
CUES. supreme commander of French
defense forces in North Africa. to-
falling some 100000 men, called an
extraordinary staff conference to
consider reinforcement of the French
garrisons in Tunisia with troops
from Algeria and Morocco.
Diplomatic circles in Paris re-
called that Marshal Pietro Badoglio
Italian chief of the general staff,
arrived in Libya Sunday, two days
after the clash was supposed to have
occurred.
Reports of border fighting in
creased the long -smouldering tension
between France and Italy, already at
odds over Italian clamor for French
colonial concessions.
Reports said the clash oc-
Cured Friday, when Italian troops
penetrated French territory from
Libya at spot about Is miles SOUTH
east of the first French fortified line
around Ben Gardane. French cas-
ualties were placed at 4 killed and
Italian at 30 killed. The Italians
were driven back into Libya, the
reports said.
Friday night French reinforce
ments suddenly were shifted to a
fortified zone.
French Fleet Arrives at Bizerte.
The French Mediterranean fleet
had arrived at the Tunisian port of
Bizerte the day before A naval de-
tachment was reported to have be-
gun partolling along the Tunisian
coast
In recent weeks other border incl
dents had been reported but none
was confirmed officially. Three
weeks ago an Italian airplane was
reported to have flown over Tunisian
territory and to have been shot
down by French anti-aircraft gun
ners. There also have been round
ups of italians in Tunisia. culmi-
mating in the arrest Sunday of an
Italian consulate employe named
Spada.
Reports circulated that map of
Tunisian defense lines were found
In his possession, but police would
not confirm this.
Airforce Kept in Readiness.
Among precautions reported to
have been taken Friday and Satur-
day was an order for all military
air detachments in Tunisia to be
ready for action
Reports circulating abroad that
German troops had been moved
through Italy to Libya also were
heard in Paris diplomatic circles,
but could not be confirmed.
It generally was believed, however,
that Italian reinforcements had been
sent to the African possession. which
already was garrisoned by some
10000 troops.
France confirms having some IS 900
troops in Tunisia and could quickly
move in reinforcements from Algeria
in case of emergency.
Military experts say the Tunisian
defense line and natural difficulties
Of the terrain are such that the
(See TGNIS1A, Page A-4O