Evening star., 1939-02-09
Ang|o-French Move
For Minorca Hold
Charged by Gayda
Fascist Editor States
Alliance May Involve
United Stutes
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ROME, Feb. 9.-The authoritative
Fascist editor Virginio Gayda today
suggested that British assistance in
negotiations for surrender of the
Spanish island of Minorca might be
designed to give Britain and France
q foothold there at Italy's expense.
He also declared Britain's armed
coalition" with France left open the
possibility of bringing the United
States into it.
The italian government, mean
while, announced that new rules
governing military service and an
increase in the Nations population
now made it possible for Italy to
mobilize more than 100000 men
for active army service in event of
war.
Premier Mussolini previously had
put the maximum figure at 100000.
Gayda, writing in II Giornale
DItalia, asked the meaning of this
coming and going around the island
of Minorca.'
Britain, France Extend Selves.
1T is evident that Great Britain
and France are concerned over
keeping Italians away from it," he
said. 1T is less evident that, with
this pretext, they are not attempting
themselves to extend a hand and
even a foot over there
Gayda said the Minorca incident
was "one of a series worthy of the
attention" of Italy and Germany,
which he declared "are calculating
on the existence of an armed coali-
ton between Britain and France
the first bloc constituted among the
great European powers since the
World War, Notwithstanding the
apparent aversion of democracies
to blocs-and they do not exclude
the possibility it even may be ex-
tended by an understanding with
the United States
An Anglo-French alliance would
not influence Germany and Italy to
abandon claims for colonial recog-
milton, Gayda said, adding. how
ever, ''it is not to be said that the
two contrasting solidarities must
end in conflict"
He said the presence of large
numbers of Spanish government
troops on French soil, bringing more
intimate association of Spanish and
French Reds" meant the start of
"a new chapter in the Spanish civil
war" .
War Preparations in High.
Italy has thrown her war prepara-
tions into high gear in answer to
British Prime Minister Chamber
latns reafflrmation of French Brit
tsh solidarity.
The Supreme Defense Commission,
which has been in daily session since
Monday, met again today, with Pre-
mier Mussolini presiding, to push
plans for placing Italy's full re-
sources behind her military needs.
The foreign Office bulletin, Infor-
mazione Diplomatica, said Italy
would speed up and perfect" her
armamentS to balance real
French English military alliance"
minerals Are Diverted.
Virtually all available minerals
already have been diverted to war
industries, political circles said.
The use of metal in private build
Ing construction has been prohibited
and private purchasers of automo-
biles must get on waiting list
because of shortage of steel for
such use, these circles pointed out.
An exception has been made in
the use of metals in goods manufac-
tured for export, in return for which
Italy obtains needed raw materials.
Reports in foreign circles said ad-
ditional reserve specialists had been
ordered to stand ready for military
training since the government called
10000 of those born in 1901 for war
courses. The call, issued January
Is, was announced as first quota. !"
At that time some sources said
many would go to Libya, Italian
North Africa, for training.