AXIS LEADERS “JUMPY”

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23947, 14 May 1943, Page 5

AXIS LEADERS “JUMPY”

POSSIBLE MOVES BY ALLIES PRECAUTIONS TAKEN IN EUROPE (Rec. 8,30 p.m ) LONDON, May 12. Cairo radio commentators said today that reports from the Middle East indicated a "certain jumpincss" on the part of the Axis authorities. Germans living in Bulgaria were being compelled to return to Germany, and in Rumania the Axis authorities were promulgating many "tightening-up” measures. In Greece guerrillas were active. There is nervousness in Crete, which Marshal Rommel is said to have visited recently. They have been having anti-invasion exercises there. “Now that his armies have been hurled from Africa, I believe that Hitler is most afraid that the Russians and the British and Americans will seize or put out of action the Rumanian oilfields,” says Negley Farson in an article in the "Daily Mail.” "To be deprived of the Rumanian oil is one thing that would defeat Germany, but, possibly, not immediately, because even now Germany has considerable reserves of oil. “It would be much more within the lines of Russian and British and American strategy to attack Rumania’s oil than storm the heavily fortified coastline of France or invade Italy in an attempt to strike across the mountain passes to Franco and Austria or try to hit Germany through Scandinavia. “I believe the present heavy concentration of Russian and German troops on their southern front proves that oil is the key to the whole conflict. It is unlikely that either the Germans or the Russians will ever again have the fighting power of this summer. Whoever strikes must strike for his final, ultimate objectives unless there is to be a stalemate.” According to the Algiers radio, the Bulgarian. Georgi Dimitrov, Secre-tarv-General of the Communist International, who went to Moscow after his acquittal at Germany’s Reichstag fire trial in 1938, is now in Bulgaria arousing opposition to the Nazis. His appeal to Bulgarians is: "Sabotage the war. Oppose the Nazis with all your might.” Fighting in Jugoslavia In a bitter battle lasting several days Jugoslav patriots have scored a great victory over the Italians in the mountains of Montenegro. The Italians were utterly defeated and are retreating, leaving 376 dead and 730 prisoners. The patriots captured much booty, including seven tanks. 20 lorries, five of which were loaded with ammunition, four heavy guns, and 70 machine-guns. A Zurich message says it is reported from Milan that Colonel Pallarom, commanding the Italian troops operating against the partisans in Croatia, has been killed in action. Hitler, who has arrived in Paris after a two-days’ inspection tour of the Atlantic defences, has ousted General Scraumburg. the commander of the occupation forces, reports the Berne correspondent of the “New York Times.” According to a well-informed source in Berlin. Hitler intends to extend the shake-up in the Western Command to all ranks, adds the correspondent. General von Arnim was mentioned as a possible appointee, but he has now been captured in Tunisia. “The Gestapo has arrested 150 suspects at Vichy as a result of a letter from Hitler to Marshal Petain warning him of a plot to overthrow Laval.” says the Berne correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain. ‘ ‘Many Government officials are among those arrested who include Admiral Platon, commander of the port of Dunkirk at the time of the evacuation, who was dismissed from the Vichy Cabinet last March by Laval. Hitler’s letter warned Marshal Petain that his Government contained a distrustful element which must be eliminated in order to prevent a coup d’etat.” Competent observers say that an invasion of Italy would reveal a sorry situation. It is predicted that this may lead to Italy's defection from the Axis in a few months. Travellers from Italy tell of automobiles with Rome licenceplates laden with household baggage, mattresses, dogs, and canaries, recalling the exodus from Paris in 1940. Furthermore. reports from private sources indicate that the Italians have done virtually nothing to fortify the peninsula. The “Dailv Telegraph quotes a report circulating in America that King Victor of Italy may abdicate at any moment in favour of Crown Prince Umberto.