Rome, June 6.
Italian Government announced last night that the coasts of Italy, Albania and all Italian colonies have been mined. The announcement coincided with increased tension in the Mediterranean as Italy began preparing her citizens for war and the Ttalian press continued charging the Allies with the persecution of Italians.
The Italian announcement said that waters within twelve miles of the coasts of Italy, Albania and the Italian colonies are now "dangerous."
Meanwhile, on the occasion of the 126th anniversary of the founding of the Italian Carabiners, Premier Benito Mussolini yesterday received the commander-in-chief of the Carabiners, Gen, Riccardo Moizo, and other ranking officers, of the organization. He was reported to have given them orders connected with Italy's possible entry into the European war.
The announcement meant that Italy had mined all territorial waters and thus the operation was one of the most extensive of its kind ever under taken, Since the communique mentioned that waters of all possessions: og well as the peninsular were made "dangerous," It was assumed that all the coast line and. the. territorial waters of Sicily, Sardinia, Albani Libya, the Red Sea, Indian Ocea allan East Africa as well as numer fous islands comprising the Dodeeanese possessions near the coast of Turkey were heavily mined.
The "Popol di Roma's" Malta correspondent reported that the Steamboat service between Malta, Syracuse and Sicily was interrupted.
In view of the possibility of a blackout in Moly for air raid protection, preparations were ordered to be made by' all householders, storekeepfers, restaurateurs, etc, in order that no internal illumination would show from the exterior. All vehicles were ordered to be equipped with low headlights, and violators were made able to three months' imprisonment and a 2,000 lire fine.
Meanwhile, the official news agency, Stefani, under a Brussels date line, said a report had been received from the Italian Consulate at Charleroi claiming that, before the German occupation of Belgium, French military officials had executed seven Italians and Campinaire on charges age, following a drum head French have against Italians," the despatch added.
The announcement of the mining of the Italian coast said, "A belt 12 miles wide circumscribing the coasts of Italy, Albania and the Empire colonies and possessions, is dangerous to navigation. Ships to enter port on the above mentioned coasts must be Jauthorized "by Italian military or} consular authorities.
"Ships already en route to the above ports must advise port authorities in time regarding the hour and day on which they will be at the ledge of the dangerous zone, indicat~ ing their approximate position. Ships will be piloted. -Ships which do not obey the above rules do so at their own risk and danger.""—United Press
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.