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frontier. The plans entail the laying of double track over the main east to west trunk line, and work has been in progress for some time. Some 9,000 men are reported to be engaged on railway construction work in Slovakia.

Soviet Russia.

18. Confusion caused by the Finnish war is becoming evident through press articles criticising the shortcomings of various undertakings.

The railways are much criticised; between the 27th December and the 1st January 3,559 oil-tank cars were provided at Odessa, against 7,434 required; during the same period 68 oil trains, containing 2,000 cars, stood at the junctions of Razdelnaya and Kolosovka, 2,139 railway-car hours above the normal amount. Severe criticism is also levelled at those responsible for loading coal and for the distribution of bread. This public criticism is common in the Soviet Union and is often a prelude to the removal of those in charge of the offending depart- ments, a procedure which not infrequently merely makes matters worse.

Italy.

19. Further reports tend to confirm the unprepared state of the Italian Army. The latest report comes from the very well-placed source who was doubt- ful how the situation could be improved. Earlier reports of the unsatisfactory artillery situation have been repeated, and it is stated that intensive courses for artillery officers are now taking place.

Libya.

20. Explanations of the sudden numerical increase in the white garrison of Libya (at present some 160,000) were sought from official sources at Rome. The reply was to the effect that at least four months would be required to train new conscripts to take their place in the ranks, and that, as conscripts who finished their eighteen months service in March would be discharged, it was considered necessary to send sufficient specialists to maintain the efficiency of units. This explanation, which is plausible, would be verified by the eventual withdrawal of a large number of conscripts on completion of their service.

The Balkan States and Turkey.

21. In Roumania and Yugoslavia reservists are being recalled to the colours. In Roumania the army seems likely to be raised very shortly to its war strength of some 600,000 by the recall of reservists on leave. Any considerable excess over 600,000 would represent labour units or men under training to replace wastage. In Yugoslavia, where the army has been at the low strength of 120,000 over the winter, it seems that certain reservists not affected by the mobilization last September are being recalled. The strength of the Yugoslav Army is now estimated to be about 300,000, which is still considerably below the war establishment of about 500,000 represented by the formations that exist in peace.

In Bulgaria and Greece the armies are already at their normal summer strength with two classes of recruits under arms. The Bulgarian recruits were called up this month, raising the strength of the army to about 100,000. The Greek army, now numbering about 90,000, has two classes of recruits with the colours, as is normal throughout the year, and would ordinarily dismiss one class early in March, when the new class is due to be called up.

The situation in Turkey remains generally unchanged. There are some 600,000 men under arms.

Palestine.

22. The first Palestinian Company of the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps left Haifa on the 23rd February for France. Its strength is about 700, of whom two-thirds are Jews and the remainder Arabs.

Since

Captures and surrenders of arms continue to be satisfactory. November 1938 about 4,500 rifles and 1,500 pistols have been seized, together with large quantities of ammunition. Recently the intake by smuggling has been

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