ULTIMATUM TO BULGARIA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23445, 27 September 1941, Page 9

ULTIMATUM TO BULGARIA

Reported Action By Germany ENTRY IN WAR SOUGHT (Received September 26, 11.40 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON. September 26. A message from Ankara states that Germany is reported to have sent a Note to Bulgaria demanding her immediate entry in the war against Russia, otherwise Germany will consider that Bulgaria has violated her pact with the Reich and the German Army will occupy the country. The Note demands the use of Bulgarian ships, ports, and aerodromes. A full-scale German occupation of Bulgaria is believed to be imminent, says a Tass News Agency message from Moscow. Several German divisions are concentrated on the Bulgarian-Rumanian frontier, and the Germans are demanding the suppression of disturbances in Bulgaria. The Gestapo has compiled a blacklist of persons who must be removed from office. The agency adds that the impression prevails in Turkey Bulgaria will enter the war. Aeroplanes for Turkey The Ankara correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that four British-owned American Tomahawk fighters have arrived at a Turkish aerodrome. They are stated to be the first of a consignment of 36 Tomahawks the British are releasing to Turkey from the hundreds now reaching ‘British aerodromes in the Middle East from America. Another Ankara message states that a London firm has secured a contract, amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds, for reconstructing piers and improving harbour facilities at Alexandretta and Mersin, THE WESTERN DESERT Situation Shows No Change SHIPPING AT BENGHAZI RAIDED (8.0.W.-U.P.A.) LONDON, Sept. 25. It is stated in London that the situation in Libya shows no change. Sandstorms are" still sweeping the Western Desert. The enemy made four small bombing raids on Tuesday, but they did no damage. British patrols at Tobruk continue to operate over a wide area every night and patrol activity is also going on on the frontier. A Royal Air Force communique from the Middle East states; “Tripoli and Benghazi were again successfully raided by heavy bombers on Tuesday night. At Tripoli many bombs were dropped on shipping in the harbour, and fires broke out. At Benghazi, the harbour and shipping were attacked. One vessel moored at the outer mole was hit and exploded, debris being thrown a considerable distance. Other bombs burst on the moles and straddled ships and anchorages. •The Fleet Air Arm bombed buildings near Bardia the same night. A large fire followed the attack. “In daylight yesterday traffic on the Benghazi road between Misurata and Sirte was bombed and machine-gunned. The petrol tank of one vehicle received a direct hit. It was burnt out, and many other vehicles were darnaged. Some collided and another ran off the road. The South African Air Force raided a large dump near Bardia “Our fighters were active in tne frontier areas on the North African coast. In the course of these operations a number of enemy aircraft were intercepted by our aircraft and shot do A n. Two of one crew were seen to take to “A reconnaissance in the central Mediterranean shows that a J, merchantman winch was attackcd b> the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm on Monday night has sunk “From all those operations five of our aeroplanes are missing, but two of the pilots are safe.” . An Italian communique slates “There has been intense aerial activity over Marmarica and the Egyptian frontier. The Royal Air Force raided Tripoli, Benghazi, Bardia, and Palermo Hich-explosivc and incendiary bombs were dropped, the latter causing damage.” MIDDLE EAST COMMAND REORGANISATION OF ALLIED ARMIES PLANS TO BLOCK AXIS THRUSTS LONDON, September 25. The Cairo correspondent of the •‘Daily Express” states that the Com-mander-in-Chief in India ( Genet al Sir Archibald Wavell) and the Comman-der-in-Chief in the Middle East (General Sir Claude Auchmlccki together recently made an extensive tour of the Middle' East bv air as a prelude to a series of changes in the organisation of the Allied armies. Already there has been some reshuffling'of senior posts. Tlw reorganisation is aimed at meeting a winter drive eastward, as an unusually cold spc'.l ha.- advanced the period of good campaigning weather by several weeks. Both the Middle East and India commands are now interlocked for the purpose of blocking the Axis at thiee main points, in the Western Desert, round Turkey, and on the Indian frontier. , . Experts in Cairo are of the opinion that Axis pressure is certain to be increased against Turkey and against the Western Desert. The military correspondent of the ••Daily Express” states that General Wavcfl spent more than a week in London. In addition to discussing important military developments which are expected in the Middle East, he interviewed a large number of young officers who will soon serve under him in the East. He saw General Auchinleck on his return. A number of their decisions will take immediate effect. GERMAN GENERAL’S SON DISAPPEARS i Received September 26, 11 p.m.) LONDON. September 26. The soldier son of General Christiansen. military governor of Northern Holland, is reported to have disappeared in mysterious circumstances. This is announced in the Free Netherlands newspaper published i: London. Christiansen was serving in the army of occupation, and the Nazis are making frantic efforts to discover what has happened to him. East Indian Eruption.— A volcano at Semeroe is erupting at two new points, making seven active craters. Twentyfive hundred inhabitants have been evacuated from nearby villages and further accommodation has been constructed should large scale evacuation be necessary.—Batavia, September 26.