Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-03
Japan Is Preparing
To Attack Singapore,
Rome Warns Britain
Toxic Held Ready to Act
If English 'Obstruct' Them
Or U. S. Enters Conflict
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ROME, Oct. 3-Premier Musso-
lini's newspaper II Popolo dItalia
said today Japan is preparing to
attack Singapore, Britain's great
Far Eastern fortress, in the event
that Britain obstructs Japan's policy
in the Orient or the United States
enters the war.
Mario Appelius, the papers lead
ing commentator. calling Singapore
the pivot of British positions in
East Asia. declared:
Japan is seeking to place itself in
the best possible position strategical-
ly against Singapore in anticipation
OF being forced by English hostility
or the intervention of new allies of
England to attack and throw down
the pillar of Singapore
Appelius warned the United
States that it would face the COM
bined forces of the German, Italian
and japanese empires of 100000
soldiers, 100000 tons of warships
and from $4,000 to 10000 airplanes,
as well as their unbeatable strate-
gic position"
Russia Approves.
Spain and Russia, informed in a
special manner of this resolution
of the axis" he wrote, Have made
it known that they recognize as
i,,rt tho will nf fhn ovic IA oroyopt
greater engagements of the con-
f1ict."
The commentator said Japan was
moving in the following lines:
First, to improve further its re-
lations with Russia;
Second, to speed up the destruc-
ton of Chang Kai-shek's forces in
China which are now an Anglo
North American political and
financial instrument"
Third, to systematic China
around the central government of
Wang Chieg-wei;
Fourth to tighten up Thailand
Siam;
Fifth to sped up the self-suf-
1ciency and exploitation of Man
chukuos war industries, including
iron, coal, fuel and oil;
Sixth, to carry Japan's strategic
line still further toward the Gulf of
Tonkin and the Gulf of Siam;
Seventh, to lay bases for its eco
nomic and spiritual" penetration
in the East Indies.
Eighth, to increase its spiritual
relations with the India of Gandhi
and Mohammedan India;
Ninth, to organize a strategic base
of solid military, air and naval pro-
portions in Indo-China.
Greece Mentioned.
Any British or Anglo-North
American intrigue" toward chang
ing the present situation in Indo-
China, Appelius said, could pro-
woke an immediate military occu-
patton of Indo-C China by Japan with
the consent and support of its two
European allies"
Meanwhile, Italian attention was
focused on Greece again. today by
the authoritative Fascist publica-
ton, II Giornale d'Italia, which dis
claimed any axis intentions to end
war against Britain.
It's two editorials. both written by
Virginia Gayda, editor who often
reflects the view of the government,
aroused speculate in foreign circles
whether attempts to pry Greece
loose from its relations with Britain
might not be in the off1ng.
Spain, Gayda insisted, has become
an associate" of the axis, even if
not as a belligerent."
Reports of disagreement between
Germany and Italy over policies and
the way the war is going, Gayda
said, are British propaganda" The
axis powers, he declared, are in full
agreement and satisfied" with what
one another has done and pre-
y,oroJ -