Evening star., 1940-06-11
Rome
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armed forces left the capital for
somewhere else" But there were
no direct reports that Italy had
struck a blow.
rtalys first military commune
que since entering the war will be
issued at 10 pm. a pm, E. S. IT,,
according to the Rome radio,
Reuters. British news agency, said
in LondonD
A spokesman denied reports that
Italian troops had invaded France
formation whether French territory
had been entered since midnight.
The spokesman made no comment
on President Roosevelt's speech last
night beyond calling attention to
the fact that the Italian press had
taken no position regarding it.
1t might be concluded, therefore,
that it had created no particular
impression in Italy, he said.
/ Italy threw her whole weight into
/ the European war. after nine months
of non-beligerency. under the eyes
OF her 70-year King Emperor
Just what sector she chose for
beginning her battle against Great
Britain and France in an effort to
make the Mediterranean truly Mare
Nostrum our sea'-was not dis
closed Immediately.
| King With TrOOps.
The King. who stayed close to the
front line. during the last war, issued
proclamation to his troops from
the zone of operations announcing
his intention again of being with
them and appointing Premier Mus
solini commander in chief Of troops
''on every 'front.' 7fF.17
In his proclamation the King ex-
horted his armed forces "of the land,
sea and air TO prepare themselves
Ito face difficult tests in the fight
alongside Germany
MuSsollni, as commander of the
Italian Army, appointed Marshal
Pietro Badoglio chief of the general
, staff in an order of the day calling
on the armed forces to conquer.
The other chiefs of staff remain
Marshal Rodolfo Graziani for the
army. Admiral Domenico Cavagnari
for the navy and Gen. Francisco
Pricolo for aviation
BY decision of his majesty, the
King Emperor. l today take over
command of the troops operating on
all fronts" Mussolini's order said,
in announcing the appointment of
Badoglio and the retention of the
others.
From today on weapons and
hearts must be solely concentrated
on victory
Count Ciano. Italian Foreign Min
lister, left Rome Immediately after
the cabinet meeting to take COM
mand of his air corps squadron. He
was wearing the uniform of major
Of the air force.
Strategic Points Guarded.
Daylight, after last nights inky
blackout, showed troops guarding
strategic points. including railway
terminals and power stations.
The roar of bombing squadrons
taking off for undisclosed destina-
tions frequently brought curious Ro-
mans to the windows.
Authoritative sources withheld
comment on President Roosevelt's
speech last night, saying they had
not had time to read it, Newspapers
! reported only that the President de-
livered an address which he revised
after he learned Italy had declared
war on the Allies
| The Rome newspaper II Messag-
gero warned Italians not to expect
victory without bitter fighting.
Formation Of Committee of
Action whose objective Will be to
gain the French African possession
of Tunisia for Italy was announced
at Trapani, Sicily.
Italian dispatches from Adds
Ababa said Mohammedans through
out Italy's African empire had vol
unteered to join in the fight for
Italy.
A dispatch from Libya said
Mohammedan chiefs told Marshal
Italo Balbo. Governor of the Italian
North African colony, they are
ready to face with JOY an event for
the glory and fortune of mother
Rome"
Expect Hostilities Soon.
AS Italy plunged into the conflict
with the intention of helping Ger
many bring the Allies to their knees
by a sudden stroke, all italian prep
arations pointed to expectation Of
quick but violent hostilities.
Most military men said a COM
bined aerial and naval action to
seize the strategic Mediterranean
Islands of Malta British naval
base) and Corsica French possess
sion which was Napoleon's birth
place. appeared inevitable.
Attacks on Britain's fortress Of
Gibraltar, at the western entrance
to the Mediterranean; on British
Cyprus in the Eastern Mediter-
ranean and on the French naval
base at Bizerte, Tunisia, have been
forecast by Fascist writers.
Conquest of the Suez Canal, also
listed In the public prints as an
Italian aim, would require an in
vasion Of Egypt-which Mussol:ni
has ruled out, at least temporarily.
Trains were placed at the disposal