USE OF SPANISH BASES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23801, 21 November 1942, Page 5

USE OF SPANISH BASES

REPORTED ATTITUDE 'OF FRANCO (See. 9 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 19. A New York report says that General Franco has informed both the Axis and the United Nations that Spain will immediately accept aid from one side or the other if any of her sea or air bases are seized. “Well-informed diplomats in Ankara declare that General Franco has refused a German request for naval and air bases in Spain,” says Reuter’s correspondent in Ankara. It is claimed in Madrid that Spain has 1,000,000 men under arms, and that mobilisation has been completed. A message from Washington says that, according to reports, the Spanish Government has explained that the partial ' mobilisation is designed to safeguard Spain’s neutrality against both the Axis and the United Nations. "Mr Roosevelt has already assured General Franco that he need not fear the United Nations,” states the “New York Times.” “but it is not known whether Axis threats have occasioned concern in Madrid, The mobilisation « regarded as precautionary, and it is directed particularly at the Gibraltar and French frontiers.” *

GERMAN FEAR OF INVASION

MEASURES IN GREECE AND LOW COUNTRIES LONDON, Nov. 19. The Germans are hastily strengthening their defences in Greece against a possible Allied invasion attempt, says • report from Ankara. Batteries of anti-airctaft guns have been rushed to southern Greek ports, and the coast has been mined. Germans in Turkey are spreading reports that enormous German forces are being brought from the Russian front *o the Balkans, but Turkish Army officers estimate that the Germans have only 20,000 men in Macedonia, the easternmost province of conquered weece, because the Russians are gathering fresh forces for their new w, nter offensive. The "Daily Telegraph” says that the '•'firmans are building a great defensive belt along the entire length of the uuten and Belgian coasts. In Holland in ,^ ence belt is 35 miles deep. Within this zone movement has been Drought to a standstill. No person is “flowed to change his place of resishj v «K° r ma k p contact with anyone out?'no the defence area. All coastal towns have been heavily forti- !!. , ai ?d Belgians have been compy sontyr evacuated. The defence zone ls 12 miles deep.

CONVOYS TO NORTH AFRICA

(8.0. W.) RUGBY. Nov. 19. guard the great armada which carS. J roo P s ar >d freight to North Africa s!® c °astal Command of the Royal Air T?k C 0 evv Sunderlands, Hudsons, f-, er , rs ' ai 'd reinforcements of Haliaxes from Bomber Command on a t i* leage equivalent to more than 50 umes round the world. More than 1500 ffn~ii. were s P ent escorting convoys Hi;?*® western seaboard and 3000 on r? C / °tfensive U-boat hunting. total is added the record of .mraltar unit the total becomes approximately 8000 flying hours.