HITCH IN AXIS DRIVE IN BALKAN STATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 283, 28 November 1940, Page 7

HITCH IN AXIS DRIVE IN BALKAN STATES.

BULGARIA DELAYS. Turkish Stand And Effect Of Greek Victories. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON", Nov. 27. A message from Sofia states that a Defence Bill, providing for a supplementary expenditure of £4,000,000 has been introduced into the National Assembly because of the "tense international situation and Bulgaria's need to secure her own defence." The Spanish news agency Berlin correspondent, re]>orts a message from Madrid, says Yugoslavia will not sign the tripartite pact at present. Bulgaria's abstention is due to Turkey's confusing attitude. The Soviet is playing its cards with the extraordinary prudence which has characterised all Russian movements | since 1939. Turkey has froin the beginning favoured Greece's chances against Italy, but the Greek successes have exceeded her highest expectations, says the Ankara correspondent of "The Times." Turkey has contributed to these successes by protecting the Greek rear, and the Greek High Command has therefore been able to withdraw all Greek troops from the Bulgarian frontier to light on the Albanian front. It in reliably stated that there is not a single Greek gendarme on the Greco-Bulgarian frontier.

The impression is growing stronger in Ankara that Germany will not intervene in the Italo-Greek war. This attitude is due at least in part to Turkey's maintaining a strong front in Tlirace. Nazis Leave Greece to Italy. The Rome correspondent of the Associated Press says that, according to informed quarters, Germany is leaving the fight against Greece entirely to Italy. The Berlin correspondent of a Belgrade newspaper quotes "an authoritative source" for the statement that Germany will not regard Greece as an enemy to the tripartite pact while the present situation continues, or as long as Greece does not declare war against Germany. Nevertheless, according to the Istanbul corresjwndent of the "Daily Telegraph,"' Turkey is pressing on with pre- I parations for any eventuality. The Ministry of Commerce will shortly become the Ministry of Commerce and Victualling, equivalent to the British Ministry of Supply, with the task of I accumulating stocks for military and civil consumption, and also distributing] all kinds of commodities. Strict Measures in Turkey. A permanent total blackout, the strictest ever imposed in Turkey, will' be enforced on Sunday, after which there will be exhaustive tests of passive defence. All shops, stores, official departments and private offices will close at 4.30 p.m. General Artunkall, formerly com-mander-in-chief of the Turkish police, has been appointed general officer commanding the six zones' of European Turkey, in which a state of siege has been proclaimed. He arrived at Istanbul yesterday, and is directing the emergency measures imposed under martial law. An outstanding political personality emphasises the vast scale of Turkey's military measures and the drastic preparations in the zones near Bulgaria and Greece. He added: "These constitute the clearest warning to the Axis Powers and their satellites that the slightest move to imperil Turkey's security and independence will be repelled by arms."