Denain to Rome

Since fear of Adolf Hitler drove France and Italy into each other's arms, it is no longer polite to remind Italians that French bombing planes from Corsica could be over Rome in less than an hour. Last week three of France's ablest pilots, North Atlantic Flyer Maurice Rossi, South Atlantic Flyer Jean Marmoz, one-time War Ace Paul Girardot, climbed to the controls of three Potez "56"' pursuit planes in Paris last week and took off with Air Minister General Victor Denain and other French officials for Rome.

Obeying strict orders, they flew slowly. The planes spent the night at Marseille, then took six hours to fly to Rome. Fascist air officials were waiting for General Denain, rushed him to a natural amphitheatre on the Pincian hill where Il Duce was scowling paternally at a socialite horse show.

With the exception of Russia, the two strongest air fleets in Europe are those of France, with 3,600 effective planes and Italy with 2,300. Factories in both countries are working 24 hours a day; France, to finish a three-year building program within the year; Italy, to end her six-year plan in half time. Together the French and Italian air fleets would make the greatest air armada the world has ever seen, capable, so the sponsors of the plan hope, of bombing any nation into good behavior.

In Il Duce's vast drafty office in the Palazzo Venezia details of that plan were worked out. An aerial defense treaty between France and Italy alone was drawn up providing that, if either nation was attacked, the combined fleets would attack the aggressor. It is intended to invite Belgium, Germany and Great Britain to adhere to the agreement as soon as possible. It was indicated last week that Great Britain would make no promises but was thoroughly in favor of the plan as far as it has gone.

But war scares were not the only thing that brought France's General Denain to Italy last week. Beside the military agreement, a commercial plan was signed for an air line that will provide daily service between Paris, Marseille, Rome. Italy's newest airliners, huge four-engined Savoia-Marchettis, will be used.

For several years France has operated an airmail service to South America. In Argentina and Southern Brazil there are far more Italians than Frenchmen. With Italian assistance this service will be speeded up and will eventually include passenger planes.

Even after all these things are arranged General Denain's work in Italy will not be finished. On Lake Garda Benito Mussolini operates the finest training school for high-speed flying in the world. His official visit ended. Air Minister Denain will spend several days at this and other Italian training schools to see if there are any new wrinkles to be picked up to teach his own blue-clad cadets.

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