Evening star., 1939-02-23
1otaIitarian States
Behavior Hints al
Approaching Crisis
ItoIo-Germun Activities
In Africa Cited as
Signs Of Intentions
BY PERTINAX.

PARIS, Feb. % IN. A. N. Az
Uneasiness persists here in COM
petent quarters about what is in
store for the Western powers In the
near future.
The war-like intentions with
which the German and italian gov
ernments are credited cannot per-
haps be proved beyond all possible
douot by direct, conclusive evidence.
But trustworthy observers report
and describe many scattered facts
upon which the only possible con-
struction to be placed is that the
totalitarian states behave as though
q serious international crisis were
to break out before many weeks
have passed. Following are several
bits Of information that have
obtained on reliable authority.
First, italian preparations of all
kinds are being pushed forward
with intense energy in Libya and
in the neighborhood of Djibouti.
Today in the House of Commons it
was officially declared that Italian
troops in Libya, not including ma
tives, approximate by now 10000
men. On the French side, that
figure is dismissed as inferior to
data which have been effected, and
unduly optimistic. Taking into aA-
count the military contingents al
ready under orders to go overseas,
the Libyan garrison will before long
reach a total of 10000 men.
The presence in Tripoli OF sew
eral German generals testifies to
the importance Of Italian Northern
Africa in the judgment Of the
strategists Of Rome and Berlin.
Italian Spies Arrested.
It Is confirmed that on February
20 several Italians were arrested IN
Tunis on a charge of spying. One
Of them, connected with Italy's gen.
eral consulate, was found in pos
session of an important document
concerning the national defense. On
the spot. no italian reaction has
been noticed. In Djibouti, on the
same day, IL persons were sent to
Jail for spying, one Of them again
In the employment Of the local
italian consul.
Substantiated reports are available
that the Italian authorities in Adds
Ababa are accommodating supplies for
military campaign. and that their
emissaries indulge in all sorts OF
suspicious deeds, such as tampering
with telephone lines on French ter
ritory. From five to six thousand
soldiers are being kept In proximity
to the frontiers of French Somali-
land.
The policy steadily enforced by the
French government is that all neces-
sary defensive steps must be taken
on the spot, to prevent italian ag-
gression from scoring even a closely
circumscribed and temporary sue
cess, and to relieve the French gov
eminent from the necessity of hav-
ing to enlarge the area Of conflict in
order to launch an effective counter
stroke, which would probably fall in
with italian calculations and designs.
It is quite within the power of
the well-seasoned North African
troops of France to make the Tu-
nisian border impregnable, espe-
cially with the help of the fortifica-
tions erected last spring and sum-
mer. AS to Djibouti, 1t will soon be
provided with enough military efec-
tives and anti-aircraft defenses to
be in q position to Withstand for
three months all conceivable attacks.
All Must Be Ready Beforehand.
1t must be kept in mind that, once
hostilities have begun, it would not
be practicable to send any reinforce
ment to the French colony across
the Red Sea, where Italian SUBJ
marines would do their work There
fore, everything must have been set
right in advance. It Is to be hoped
that consultations between the
French and British naval stats will
begin soon to arrange for an eventual
blockade along the Djibouti-Aden
axis.
Regarding Germany, the view pre-
walls in Well-informed circles that
Chancellor Hitler could not fail to
answer Mussolini's call, as the Nazi
regime could not afford to counte-
nance the downfall of the Fascist
power.
The most striking feature of the
German preparations is the fast
tempo prescribed for factories where
war material and ammunitions are
turned out. Last November the
maximum output recorded during
the summer had been allowed to
fall off, and an all-around slacken-
ing had been perceived. Now there
are indications that the German
air force will shortly include about
5000 machines and that over 1000
tanks are likely to be in service
soon. Thus, as to tanks, the gap
which was detected last September
in the Hitlerian Reich's armory is
being filled up.
The French government is doing
its best to keep in touch with the
German government and persuade
it to exert a moderating influence
in Rome That is the reason why
French diplomacy remains aston
ishingly passive toward Poland and
Soviet Russia. But no tangible re-
suits can be obtained in this way
unless France should impress the
Fuehrer and the whole world with
its firm resolve to resist all unjust
claims.
Peace Depends on Mussolini.
In Rome it falls to the lot of the
British cabinet to demonstrate with
Mussolini, upon whom, more than
upon any other man alive, peace
and war can be seen to depend.
In his last talk with Count Ciano,
the Italian foreign minister, on