Evening star., 1939-04-05
Adriatic Maneuvers
Seen Warning 10
Stop Hitler Bloc
Rumor Persists Italian
Troops Are Ready to
Lond in AIbunio
BY the Associated Press.

ROME. April 5.-1talian maneu-
vering In the Adriatic Sea was in
terpreted in foreign circles today as
a warning to Great Britain and
France against carrying out their
"encirclement" plans and to Yugo-
slavia and Greece against joining in
them.
This view was strengthened by an
article In the prominent Bologna
newspaper II Resto del Carlino as
political circles forecast greater free
dom for Italian troop movements to
Albania as result of the expected
strengthening of the Italian
Albanian defensive alliance.
Rumors persisted that italian
troops were ready to land in Albania,
across the Adriatic from Italy.
II Resto del Carlino said that
Britain and France were counting
on Romes abandonment of the
Rome-Berlin axis when London and
Paris have "encircled" Germany by
creating series of guarantee pacts
with Soviet Russia, Poland, Ru-
mania, Yugoslavia, Greece and
Turkey"
The newspaper advised 'big and
little illusionists near and far that
Italy, along with Germany, will reply
tit for tat to any attempt at en-
circlement."
1t said that Britain and France
run the risk of being crushed, and
all the worse for the little powers
who dare to lend themselves to the
game of the big ones"
Our reply will not be delayed" it
asserted.
Treaty to Be Broadened.
Diplomatic interest focused on
negotiations between Italy and Al
bania. officially but graphically de-
scribed as intended to strengthen
their military alliance.
The Treaty of Tirana, signed in
1927, provided for dispatch of Ital-
ian troops to Albania if the latter
requested such aid against a war
danger
Some foreign observers considered
1t likely that the treaty would be
broadened to permit Italian forces
to help King Zog to crush any revolt
in his little domain.
1t was reported in some circles that
Zog already had asked for Italian
troops to put down an uprising but
this lacked official confirmation.
The Italian government radio sta
tiOn at Bari announced last night
that negotiations had been started
to strengthen the military alliance
at Zog's request.
The alliance already required that
each ally place all her military,
financial and other resources at the
disposal of the other in event of
war menace.
Move Seen Precautionary.
The Bari station denied reports
abroad concerning Albanian Italian
relations without saying what the
reports were. Among the reports,
however. was one that Italy in
tended to send troops to Albania.
(The Albanian Legation in
London issued an announcement
last night that Albania would
never allow violation of her in
dependence or integrity and
that "a protectorate over AL
bania is imminent lacked "foun-
dation."D
Fascists explained the Italian-Al
banian and other moves as precau-
tions to guard 1taly's maritime back
door against any "encirclement' by
France and Britain.
Authoritative circles confirmed re-
ports of Italian troop concentra-
tions near Brindisi, on the Adriatic
coast opposite Albania, but said they
were intended to reinforce Italian
garrisons in the Dodecanese Islands,
facing Turkey in the Eastern Medi-
terranean, and perhaps Italian gar
risons in Libya.
Fascists said one regiment al
ready had gone to Rhodes in the
Dodecanese group.