The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-12
BRITAIN BRINGS
WAR INTO ITALY
(NEA Telephoto)
Continued from Page y


planes had bombed the main Ital-
ian air bases In Ethiopia yesterday,
concentrating on grounded ma
chimes and gasoline and bomb
dumps, and had returned to base
without loss.
Announcement was made by Brit
ish East African military headquar-
tiers, the Exchange Telegraph Mai
robi correspondent reported, that
heavy bombing planes Of the South
African air force heavily and Sue
cessfully bombed Banda Hill and
other military detectives In the
the Moyale area Of southern Eth
iopia, near the Kenya frontier, and
returned without loss.
Embargo On Italy
King George imposed the embar-
60 on italian exports by royal proc
lamation today. His proclamation
came after the Italian coast had
been mined by the British fleet.
The embargo was identical with
that imposed against German ex-
ports-to Germany's rage-in retail
iation for the German submarine
and airplane campaign against mer-
chant ships last November.
Britain had charged that Ger
many was sinking ships without
regard to the rights of neutrals or
to humanitarian principles.
In publishing the embargo on
italy, the official Gazette said that
King George has the unquestion-
able right to apply TO the commerce
Of Italy measures similar to those
against Germany, since Italy has
now associated herself with Ger
many in the war and has thereby
made herself a party to the German
method Of waging war;
From the Alps to the equator, and
on all the seas, the British empire
had now struck at Its new enemy.
italy Ahead Of Time
A report reached a well informed
embassy from Rome today that
Benito Mussolini had declared war
five days earlier than he had inten-
ded originally, and this was offered
in explanation of the fact that Italy
had lost approximately 30 ships Of
its merchant marine, by capture or
scuttling, on the first day Of the
war.
There were conflicting explana-
tons Of the report that Italy had
entered the war sooner than Musso-
liri had intended. One was that
Adolf Hitler, feeling the severe
strain Of the battle on the western
front, had sought 1taly's immediate
participation as a diversion.
Another was that Mussolini, be-
lieving that Germany should win
the war soon, desired in time to
ensure a share OF the spoils.
Discussing the western front,
British soupees said frankly that the
fall of Paris must now be consid-
cred a possibility.
But 1t was added that exhaus-
ton was likely to halt the German
drive soon, and perhaps even before
the capital was engulfed.
1t was suggested that the fate Of
Paris depended first, on the extent
to which Germany's armored fore
es had been used up and its In
fantry exhausted; second, the
speed with which the Allies could
get substantial reinforcements in
men and materials into the fighting
lines.
Military experts In their discus
sion Of italy suggested that the first
big italian attack might be against
French Corsica, which Is q threat
to Genoa, Italys biggest port, and
Spezia, a naval base. Further,
italian domination of Corsica would
threaten to cut Frances commune
cations with Africa.
Hope was seen that supplies from
the United States might soon aid
the Allied armies Of the west.
British Briefs
London, June IL (UP)- The
British government and the Egyp-
tan embassy said today they had
no knowledge Of a reported Italian
ultimatum to Egypt.
It was said that early In the war
Adolf Hitler assured Egypt through
diplomatic channels that Germany
would respect the integrity OF Egypt
so long as that nation confined Its
action to the limits Of Its alliance
with Britain.
London, June l2-(UP)-The air
ministry said today that British
spitfire fighting planes had shot
down one German Heinkel III
bombers off the coast Of Kent this
morning. Two members Of the Ger
man crew were taken to q hospital.
London, June l2-(UP)-Well In
formed sources said today that
nothing was known Of reports, at
tributed TO the Belgrade radio, that
British and Italian fleets had
fought q battle IN the western
Mediterranean.
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