Word: corfu
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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...Corfu. The receipt of the Greek note in Italy fanned the public temper to white heat. Numerous violent actions against Greeks occurred from one end of Italy to the other. The Italian Government, which had previously mobilized the fleet at Taranto (in the arch of the Italian boot) refused to accept the Greek reply and ordered its men-of-war to Corfu, a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, west of Greece. On arrival, an Italian naval captain was sent ashore to demand the surrender of the town of Corfu. The Greek Governor stated that he would ask for instructions...
...Italian Government continued to pour troops into Corfu after the occupation. The customs were seized by the Italians and the Greek Govenment was informed that it must pay for the cost of occupation. Upward of 5,000 soldiers were in occupation of the islands of Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, Cephalonia and Samos, while a large portion of the Italian fleet, including seaplanes, submarines, destroyers, and auxiliary craft were patrolling the area...
Little Entente. It was feared that Greece had come to an arrangement with the Little Entente, of which YugoSlavia is a member, providing for assistance in ease of war between her and Italy. It was also feared that YugoSlavia would decide that the Corfu occupation was directed against her. Any aggressive attitude on the part of the Little Entente was sure to plunge the whole of the Balkans into fanatical ferment. France (overlord of the masters of Central Europe) had counselled "watchful waiting"; therefore the attitude of the Little Entente was neutral...
Italy's Defence. Premier Mussolini stated that the occupation of Corfu was only a temporary measure and "not an act of war." The object was "to force the indemnity out of Greece and to secure general compliance with the terms of the ultimatum" nothing more."The Premier then said that Italy will stand by every demand she has made. His position was adequately backed by the people, as shown by the message of the Veterans of the World War at Venice:"At the first blast of the bugle we will be with you, Chief...
...officers and men who, after training them, convoyed and guided them across, and could have done such excellent work in hunting submarines. We built nearly four hundred of these little vessels in 18 months, and we sent 170 to such widely scattered places as Plymouth, Queenstown, Brest, Gibraltar, and Corfu. Several enemy submarines now lie at the bottom of the sea as trophies of their offensive power; and on the day that hostilities ceased, the Allies generally recognized that this tiny vessel, with the 'listening devices' which made it so efficient, represented one of the most satisfactory direct answers...