Evening star., 1940-06-05
Rome Police Rout'
Demonstrators
Against Allies
Ronk-and-FiIe Italians
Showing Nerve Strain
Of Awaiting War
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
ROME, June 5.-Fascist students
attempted to organize new anti-Al-
lied demonstrations today as Italy
marked time on the edge of war
but were disbanded by police in the
vicinity Of the British consulate.
The youths, many of whom had
Just completed their examinations
IN the early closing of schools
formed a procession in the down.
town streets.
After they were dispersed, armed
troops were stationed at doorways
near the consulate, and the guards
at the French and British Embas-
sizes were reinforced.
Turkish Greek Tension.
An Athens dispatch to II Messag-
gero reported that Turkey, despite
her denials, had sought permission
to disembark troops on the Greek
Islands in the Aegean Sea. The
troops were said to be already con-
centrated and ready to embark
while Allied war vessels were cruis-
ing among the islands.
The papers said the Greek gov
ernment had rejected the request
but that it had been urgently re-
newed.
Turkeys reasons we're reported to
be first, to prevent the islands from
falling into Italian hands in case
Italy entered the war and then be-
ing used as bases for an attack on
Turkey; and second, to make it pos
sible for Turkey to protect Greek
territory from attack, since Greece
lies within Turkeys safety zone
Tension was reported growing be-
tween Greece and Turkey as a re-
suit of the supposed demands.
The soldiers guarding the British
consulate in Rome were withdrawn
In midmorning.
About 20 British Leave.
About 20 British, mostly members
of the Embassy's commercial staff
and their families left today for
home. Fellow-countrymen who
bade them farewell at the station
shouted, "Hurrah for England" as
the train departed.
The government issued instruc-
tions for blackouts in case of air
raids.
The Fascist press continued to
publish reports or alleged Allied per-
secution of Italians. The latest ac-
cusation was contained in a Stefani
news agency dispatch from Brus-
sells, charging French troops had
executed seven Italians and Bel
gians after a court martial con-
victed them of espionage.
The victims were reported to
have been part of a group, which
included women and children, who
were lined up against wall for
summary execution. This, according
to the dispatch, was postponed at
the last minute pending the court
martial, which then passed the
death sentence.
Strain on Nerves Shown.
Rank and file Italians, admitting
privately that the on-and-of state
of Italy's war preparations was get
ting on their nerves, took the view
that "if we're going to fight, let's
get it over with"
This comment highlighted clarnol
for an Italian blow for her terri
torial spirations-stirred by Fas-
cist writer's descriptions of plans for
attacks on British and French
Mediterranean territories, with con-
quest of the Suez Canal as main
goal, perhaps to be followed by a
move into the Balkans.
A cabinet meeting presided over
by Premier Mussolini yesterday pro-
duced only secondary preparedness
regulations and left still undis-
closed the date and place of possible
italian intervention in the war as a
German ally.
Speculation regarding the time o1
an Italian plunge into war ranged
from the end of this week to the end
of the month and one source close
to the government declared that nc
immediate move was likely.
Italian lines sold tickets for sail
Ing of the liner Rex for New York
June II, after nearly every one had
concluded that the United States
liners President Harrison and Elk.
cambion, now en- route to America
would be the last ships to leave fol-
the United States before extension
of the war to the Mediterranean.