Monday, Jun. 14, 1926

Purchase

The Roumanian government placed orders for five Italian submarines last week, negotiated the purchase of two old but reconditioned Italian destroyers, proposed to cover this deal financially out of the promised 200,000,000 lire Italian loan to Roumania (TIME, May 22, ITALY) which was projected as soon as the Italio-U. S. debt agreement was signed.

It was announced that the Italian government will seek permission from the Turkish government for the destroyers to pass the fortifications of the Dardanelles on their way to Roumania.* Experts opined that the submarines can slip past in any case.

*In picturesque idleness on the western shore of the Black Sea, not far from the Danube's mouth, lies Constanta, Roumania's only port. In the casino there can often be seen half a dozen gilded Roumanian admirals who command scarce so many ships.