RISING ANGER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23923, 25 March 1941, Page 7

RISING ANGER

YUGOSLAV PUBLIC ANTI-AXIS FEELING MANY DEMON STlf ATI ON S RESISTANCE DEMANDED (Rpcd. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 21 Thousands of Yugoslavs are demonstrating all over the country against capitulation to the Axis, says a message from Belgrade. Demonstrators iri Belgrade and other towns sang the Serbian song: "Be ready to fight oppression." Crowds numbering 30,000 assembled in the streets and cheered the Ministers who resigned. One of the largest demonstrations was at Skoplje, where the crowd demanded resistance to the Axis.

The army is restive bemuse the .Minister of War, General Mutilin Nedich, lias been reported as telling the Cabinet that the army is not prepared for war. Troops continue to move steadily to the frontiers, but one of the key factors obviously is the attitude of the General Stall. which ultimately will determine whether the army is to he used to repel or condone an invasion.

The Sokol, or youth movement, the head of which is <lie young King Peter and which has :v memhotship of over .'iOO.OOO, issued a manifesto demanding the sacrifice of everything before honour and freedom. According to the Helgra do correspondent; of (he Daily Mail, it has been revealed in authoritative diplomatic quarters thai Greece has warned Yugoslavia that permission for Germany to send hospital trains and war material across her territory would be regarded in Athens a.s a hostile act. The Moscow radio said the shortage of food in Bulgaria was growing rapidly worse. Butter and margarine were rationed, the price of chickens was steadily rising, and beef had vanished. The German Minister in Belgrade is urging the Yugoslav Government to sign an agreement immediately, "Herlin," lie states, "ha.s taken note of the postponement of the visit to Vienna." APPEASEMENT POLICY RESERVE OFFICERS' PROTEST LONDON. March '_>3 It was reported from Belgrade .yesterday that the Regent. Prince Paul, received the Prime Minister, M. Tsvetkovilch, who proposed the names of new Ministers to succeed thoso who have resigned. Some light is thrown on the conflicting opinions in Yugoslavia by the fact that, at the meeting of the Society of Yugoslav Reserve Officers held to protest against a policy of appeasement, unanimous approval was given to tlie following resolution: "We learn that we find ourselves in the course of concluding an agreement which is not in harmony with our national honour and independence. Therefore, to give emphasis to our protest wo reserve officers and warriors are cancelling our general assembly and breaking up. "We declare our readiness to defend with our lives our independence, to guard the frontiers of our country and to he faithful to our King and Fatherland in the spirit of our national traditions." It appears that over GOO reserve officers were present.