BALKAN DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 57, 8 March 1935, Page 7

BALKAN DISPUTE.

TURKS' ACTIVITY.

BULGARIAN PROTEST.

Concentration of Troops on

The Frontier.

APPEAL TO THE LEAGUE.

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 12.30 p.m.) GENEVA, March 7.

M. Antonoff, the Bulgarian delegate to the League of Nations, has directed attention to the concentration of Turkish troops on the TurkoBulgarian frontier. If it continues this will necessitate an appeal to the League, he states, but it is hoped a friendly settlement may be affected. It is added that Turkish forces in Eastern Thrace during 12 months have increased from one division of infantry and one cavalry to four of infantry and one cavalry, in addition to artillery aggregating 500 guns. The Turks, it is contended, are also recruiting irregulars designed to operate in Bulgaria in the event of hostilities, displaying a feverish activity similar to that on the eve of war, including the fomenting of civilian agitation against Bulgaria, while troops openly talk of an early offensive. They declare they could occupy Southern Bulgaria within 24 hours. It is further stated that the Turks' reply to the Bulgarian protest declared that the "moves were made to defend the Dardanelles." M. Antonoff pointed out that if the Turkish concentration had followed the Greek revolt it would be more explicable as a warning to Bulgaria not to take advantage of Greek embarrassments, but it developed before the Greek outbreak. Piquancy is added to the situation owing to Tewfik Rushdi Bey at present being president of the League Council. Meanwhile the Turkish Minister at Berne received a newspaperman and ridiculed the suggestion of Turkish bellicosity. He said Turkey, as a member of the Balkan Entente, was associated with Greece in a special entente and could not be indifferent to Bulgarian troops' movements at present being carried . out on the Bulgar-Greck ' frontier.