ENEMY POSITION IN BALKANS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24206, 14 March 1944, Page 5

ENEMY POSITION IN BALKANS

POSSIBILITIES OF COLLAPSE

SIGNS OF WAVERING IN RUMANIA LONDON, March 10. "It has been evident for some time that Rumania is fast approaching the end of her tether,” states the Ankara correspondent of "The Times.” "The folly of her present leaders sent the Rumanian army to fight for the Germans as far away as Stalingrad and the Caucasus, exposing it to heavy losses and Rumania to the Russians’ resentment.

“The Rumanians see fearfully the day of reckoning approaching with every Russian victory, and that day is very near. All reports reaching Turkey from Rumania agree that the Rumanians, fully aware of this, are demanding, with increasing insistence, mat something shon'd be done to save ujem from further calamities. Finland's example is preying on Weir minds, therefore it would not be surprising to hear one clay of Rumania Waking peace overtures. The chances 3re that Bulgaria and Hungary would loilow •Rumania’s lend, causing a coliapse of the German position throughout the Balkans. This picture ol the situation may ue over-sanguine, but in view of the ri^, n i s disintegration which arc alJ", y apparent, ev. m-- in the Balkans way develop prccinilalely and lead P iif l,dden monu n i.uis results. The r n d ,, kans are so vi'-il to Germany for °f strategy, loud, and supply at the Germans may be expected to their'h possible to - maintain

The cinnin. iiing of ihc heads of (he umanian GoVprnn-enl to Hitler’s neaaquarters had m, other motive w reassure waverers and to bully rin>=i* :ied!er!Ce tlm-e who were reealBalkari E , vents may .vet force the their 3 ? r '-’^ ers to fake matters into tion * own ,h an ds without paying attenTh ° o' ders from Berlin." “Tho 6 Stockholm correspondent of sdoWoo. ncf i" stn to-' dial a military Waiiv^ 11 '- 11 , "'.Berlin indicated GerProachf"! ' “a" 111 defend the apthe utw, u mul Odessa to Russian- ftl’-r'- J [cy must keep thp Possihu 5 ftom fuinania a? long as Kumanta, not -, 011 i v ,Jt ‘ enuse of the vital Political n*' ■ b , :il lor equally vital with n considerations connected lated 5 ),? 0 ,!' 1 ' 0 ;’ . nf ”T Axis forces is-.-In German 6 < -' ! ‘ inie a is causing anxiety Germany, as conditions are rapidly

RUSSO-POLISH BORDER

“ ECONOMIST’S ” OPINION (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.AJ (Hcc. 10 p.m.) LONDON, March 12, "The Soviet, reply to the Poles refusing to agree to the final settlement of the Russian-Polish frontier being postponed until after the war meanwhile leaving Lwow and Vilna under Polish administration, virtually amounts to an ultimatum of unconditional surrender," says the "Economist." "If the Russians can agree to leave their claims to Petsamo until the final peace negotiations why cannot they do the same with Lwow? Similarly, if Moscow can negotiate with a government including Mannerheim and Tanner, why must a reshuffling of the Polish Government be made the condition to resuming relations between Russia and Poland? "The Russians are entitled to insist on full military and political security behind their fighting lines in Poland.”

TARGETS HIT IX TOULOX

rßec. 7 p.m.) LONDON. March 12. A vital military target was badly damaged in the Liberator raid on Toulon on Saturday, Eight direct hits were scored against a gas and coke factory, three against a cable factory, three against a munition factory, and soven against a military repair shop. Six bombs burst inside the U-boat base, and two sticks of bombs straddled the railway marshalling yards.

RUMANIAN PEACE MOVES

REPORT FROM ANKARA

(Rsc. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 13. A Rumanian politician, Prince Stirbey. has arrived in Istanbul and is reported to be approaching the Allies for peace terms, says Reuter’s Ankara correspondent. Well-informed diplomatic circles in Ankara attach more than usual importance, to Prince Slirbey s visit.

deteriorating in the Ukraine, Russian warships are endangering sea communications with the Crimea, and the Russians, if they gain Nikolaev and Odessa, will virlualy control the waters between the Crimea and Rumania, causing the Germans in the Crimea to depend on air supplies.