Rome, Dec. 1.
of speed passenger and_ cargo An extensive building. programme Ships" is announced by. the Societd Finanziara Marittima, which controls 40 per cent. of Italy's mercantile tonnage.
'The new programme comprises 44 ships, leven of which, each displacing 11,000 tons, will' be allocated to the Far Eastern trade.
The last will be delivered by 1941.
All will be built largely through Government subsidy, and most of the new ships will enjoy an operat ing subsidy.
The Italian naval authorities have approved plans for every ship, which will include an emplacement for six-inch guns, both fore and aft—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.