NEW DANGER OF ATTACK ON TURKEY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 173, 24 July 1941, Page 7

NEW DANGER OF ATTACK ON TURKEY

GERMAN MOVES

Enemy's Urgent Need Of Fuel Supplies United Tress Association.—Copyright. Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, July 23. The lull in the German drive is provoking speculation in London as to whether Germany may attack in the Middle East, sending troops through Turkey—with or without Turkey's permission—in an attempt to seize the oilfields stretching from Baku to Iran.

The Stockholm correspondent of the "Daily Express" and the diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily Herald" both declare that Germany is putting strong pressure on Turkey to co-operate with the Axis and thus provide a passage for the German armies.

The "Daily Express" correspondent reports that British officers from Iraq and Teheran arrived recently at Kasnodar to establish with the Russian authorities a headquarters position for the defence of the Baku oilfields. Military observers point out that the Russian campaign must have severely drained German fuel supplies, which have not been replaced. A drive eastward in an attempt to seize the great oil basin from Baku to Iran would therefore not be surprising.

Leningrad — Moscow Drive Spent Authoritative quarters in London agree that the second German thrust on Leningrad, Moscow and Kiev has spent itself, with the Russians maintaining resistance practically on all fronts.

Point is given to this contention by a statement of the German High Command spokesman: "It is better now for us 'to stay put' in Russia for the time being," he said. "We do not intend to cross the natural obstacles such as rivers and marshes, but to take advantage of them to impede the retreat of the enemv."

Simultaneously, Berlin officials warned foreign correspondents not to expect sensational communiques in the next few days.