DIPLOMATIC PUSH. WIDENED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 121, 15 February 1941, Page 11

DIPLOMATIC PUSH. WIDENED

Nazis’

Hopes in Balkans

PRESSURE ON GREEKS, TURKS, YUGOSLAVS

Reason For Genoa Shelling

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received February 14. 9.15 p.m.) LONDON. February 1.4. Germany has speeded up the preparations in Bulgaria and Rumania and also launched a campaign of threats, rumours and diplomatic pressure against Yugoslavia, Greece and lutkev. The quick fall of Cyrenaica has enabled General \\ avell to i emass forces for dispatch elsewhere, for which reason the Germans aie expected to launch a Balkans campaign as soon as it can be arranged. There are indications also that the Germans’ expected spring oilensive will seek to engage Britain on as many fronts as possible, exploiting the weakest they find. Reports from Italy confirm that German detachments aie niassec in north Italy. Some of them were awaiting embarkation at Genoa in the north-west on the day the British shelled the citj . Other units are mjing to Italy over the Brenner Pass, increasing the German ioiccs which already are reported to exceed the needs of the Luftwaffe m Italy and Sicily. The Genoese concentration oi part ol Hitler s “southern army’’ has consisted of young men specially trained tor colonial warfare. The Italians hope that these forces will still go to Tripoli to stave off a further defeat.

Rumours have multiplied throughout the day in Belgrade, the wildest of which said that now thousands, of German planes are in Bulgaria. This the Bulgarian Legation in London has denied, on the ground that Bulgaria’s aerodromes could not accommodate 1000 aircraft, especially in winter.

•“The Times” says the object of the rumours are:— First, to alarm Turkey and Yugoslavia, specially the latter. Secondly, to try to dispose the Greeks to consider a separate peace with Italy. Thirdly, to tighten the German grip on Bulgaria, and generally prepare the ground for political domination or military aggression, whichever best suits rhe German policy. Promise Regarding Turkey. The "‘Daily Telegraph’s” Belgrade correspondent says it has now been repealed that a Yugoslav-Hungarian pact of friendship was concluded after Germany had instructed Hungary to shelve her territorial claims against Yusoslavia for the purpose of immobilizing Yugoslavia in the event of a Balkan conflict. The Germans have given an assurance to Bulgaria that Turkey will remain silent unless she is directly attacked, says the Sofia correspondent of “The Times.” The German-dominated Bulgarian Press gives prominence to German reports that Turkey would remain neutral in the event of military operations in the Balkans, and newspapers in their leaders declare that this has been learned from every reliable source.

The majority of the Bulgarian people, the correspondent ad'ds, sincerely believe that Turkey would raise no objection to a German passage across Bulgaria.

The Belgrade representative of the "Daily Telegraph” says that Germans declare that King Boris of Bulgaria is the chief obstacle to the German advance, apparently opposing further approaches to the Axis. If this is accurate, it means that Boris has revised his policy. Oilfields Evacuation. The Bucharest correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says the Rumanian Government has advised civilians to evacuate Ploesti, Constanza, Giurgiu, and other oilfields and oilport areas. Official circles said that early bombing of these areas by the R.A.F. is feared. Many families are moving out from Bucharest to the provinces. The blackout has been rigorously tightened up, and even covers the lighting of cigarettes and matches in the streets. There is great activity also at the Craiova, Turan, Severeinu, and Ploesti airports, all of which are manned by Germans. More troop transports are reported to be flying over Hungary toward the south-east.

The Belgrade correspondent of the

Associated Press of Great Britain reports:— •‘liifcirined diplomatic quarters ..here declare that the Ankara Government is making an eleventhhour attempt to bring Bulgaria Greece, Yugoslavia, and Turkey together in order to prevent the war spreading throughout the Balkans. These nations could mass an army of 3,000.000.