Rome, Oct. 10.
Signor Benito Mussolini was to-aay mobilizing an army of conscripts to meet possible Anglo French reprisals. OMcials "said that the classes of 1907, 1908 and 1909 had been called to stand by in readiness for "eventual action anywhere." Diplomats believed the conscripts would be sent to Spain If France opens the tron-tier as she has threatened to do. United Press, Turning to the situation in. Spain and China, Mr. Chamberlain said that although no formal declaration war had yet been made, there were In fact two major wars proceeding—In Spain and China—and both were characterized by the use of bombing] aeroplanes, In. both cases, ho declared, "noncombatants have been killed and mutilated by aerial weapons which, are told, were aimed at military objectives but which, in no case, can thr considered instruments of prec!- tg a sickening and horrifying spectacle, from which the mind revolts," stated the Prime Minister, Nand' which has aroused in. many countries the strongest feelings of {ndignation at its inhumanity and sympathy with the helpless. victims. Yet it seems to me there {s some danger lest these natural human feelings should miss the real point should be directed. ity, mutilation Mr. Chamberlain quoted figures showing that ordinary commercial business continued to show astonish Ing resilience and still no sign of the predicted slump:
'Merchant shipping under construction at the end of June, the Prime Minister declared, was 120 per cent. greater than on' June 30, 1931, and the amount of British shipping lad up was only three per cent: of what was six years ago.
In concluding his remarks Mr. Chamberlain deplored the necessity of Britain having to. spend money fon armaments, but added that "the aight of what is going on in China locday brings home to us that our safety from such horrors is more Precious to us than anything se"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.