The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-06

it known that gunners of the home fleet had been ordered to remain on their ships during the easter holi- days ready for action. It appeared at first that this disclosure came as an inadvertence. Now, there was considerable backing for the idea it was done deliberately as Q warn- ing to foreign countries.
 Unconfirmed newspaper reports had 1t that the order was the result of message from Berlin to the government warming that there might be European explosion. Regardless of this, 1t was plain that Britain was getting ready. It had been understood for a week that British warships and air. planes were patroling the English channel and North Sea coasts, looking for submarines and any air. planes which might essay light ming attack.
 Lincolnshire Startled
 The people of the Lincolnshire village of Trusthorpe, over near the east coast, were startled from their sleep last night when 8 great air. plane bomb dropped in wheat field and made a huge hole. It was just an accident-a British air force bomber had dropped it. one of a squadron on patrol. Airplanes never carry live bombs except when on business, and it was learned that residents of numerous key air force fields were complaining that they could not sleep at night because of the constant activity of airplanes.
 It was announced in the house of commons yesterday that the gov- ernment was stiffening the decks of 1000 merchant ships for gun mounts. It was added that sufficient anti submarine guns and ammunition for them were on hand now and that good progress was being made in providing anti-aircraft guns and ammunition.
 It was learned that the govern ment had distributed 300,000 port able steel shelters to London house. holders, in preparation for air raids and was about to order 100000 more.
 British, French Staffs Confer The British and French army navy and, air force staffs were in the closest cooperation since 1913, and British-Polish staff talks were ex- pected to start soon. Viscount Gort chief of the British imperial general staff, had just returned from a visit to Gen. Maurice Gamelin, chief of staff of the French defense forces Guy La Chambre, French air min- ister, returned to Paris yesterday from 8 visit to London.
 Twenty miles from the Brenner Pass, through which German troops might pour to aid Italy or Italian troops to aid Germany, the chiefs of staff of the German and Italian armies were engaged in a secret two day conference.
 Frances Maginot line had been manned at war strength for weeks.
 France Rushed War Forces
 France was sending navy and army endorsements to the Alex andretta area of Syria. The move ments were generally connected with Turkeys desire to reclaim Alexandretta. But Turkey and France are on good terms; France is willing to give up the area-and Alexandretta is within striking dis tance of the Italian Dodecanese Islands off the Turkish coast.
 Britain and France received re- ports that Italy had sent troop rein- forcements to Spain though the Spanish civil war was over.
 It was reported that Italian troop strength. in Libya, between Egypt and French Tunisia, was as great as during the Ethiopian war. Britain regarded the movement of troops to Libya a violation of the British Italian status quo agreement.
 Agreements COllapsing
 Italy was reported busily strength ening the Dodecanese Islands, down by the entrance to the Suez Canal. That, too was regarded as viola tion of the agreement because Italy had not notified Britain of her ac- tivities.
 Italian occupation of Albania would be regarded as a violation too, and it would make it necessary for Britain at once to re-examine its strategic position in the eastern Mediterranean.
 There seemed nothing Britain could do about Albania except send 8 formal protest that any occupa- ton would violate the ,British-Ital- ian friendship agreement. Jugo- slavia, most directly affected, had said she would not oppose the Ital- ian action. Thus there would be no reason for France, protector of the little entente, of which Jugoslavia is a member, to act.
 Albania, reported to be consider ing armed opposition to any Italian invasion, was not alone among the small nations which felt itself in danger.
 Pope Only Peace Hope
 There was but one report in all the WOrlQ today which told Of the prospect for a concrete move in the interest of peace.
 In Rome, 1t was reported thlt Pope Plus XII would make an important speech on the international situa- ton Sunday-possibly an appeal for world peace on one of the solemn Christian days of the year.
 As Cardinal Pacelli. secretary of state to his predecessor Plus xI, the new Pope is one of the most able diplomats in the world. It was un- derstood that in recent days his secretary of state, Cardinal Mag Hone, had conferred with a Polish rrelate and a representative of the French embassy.
 ARGENTINE NAZI