TRIAL EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 11

TRIAL EFFORT

Nazis Cross Danube Into Bulgaria PONTOON BRIDGES TESTED Turks Comment On New Pact <Bv Teleg ra ph. -- P rests Aseti. —Copy right.) (Received l-eb. 21, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON. February 20. It is announced from Budapest that all shipping on the Danube stopped while the Germans threw pontoon bridges across the fiver from Giurgiu on the Rumanian side to Rustchuk on the Bulgarian side. Ihe Germans afterward tested the bridges by crossing iti loaded lorries to Bulgaria, returning to Rumania before dark.

There has been some further comment from Turkey today about, the pact signed with Bulgaria. One Turkish newspaper, replying to suggestions that the signing of the pact means that Bulgaria has secured Turkey’s neutrality with a view to allowing the passage of German troops through Bulgaria, says: "Without hesitation, Turkey’s reply is ‘No.’ It adds: "There is irrefutable proof that Bulgaria, by signing the declaration, unreservedly recognizes Angio-Turkish ami Turkish-Greek friendship aud alliances.

A Turkish deputy, writing in another newspaper, declares that the war of nerves which the Axis lias lost in the Balkans was shattered by the fortresslike strength of Turkey. When 'Turkey signed the mutual assistance agreement witli Britain and France in 1930 she was perfectly conscious of the res|>onsibility attaching to her decision. Today, as hitherto, he says, the Turkish people follow the same path as the British, always remaining sincere friends in good an'd bad days, and allies with the same ideal. A Rumanian view of the TurkishBulgarian declaration is given iu a Buchest newspaper, which says: “It may, perhaps, be considered as a fresh instrument for the maintenance of peace in tiie Balkans. The impression given is that the declaration is a manifestation of the desire for peace of tiie two countries —not only peace between themselves, but peace for the whole Balkan region."

After reading tiie Bulgarian-Turkish Pact in the Chamber of Deputies, the Bulgarian Premier, Professor Filoff, referred to “contradictory comments.” He stressed that the pact is further proof of Bulgaria’s "policy of peace.” The Bulgarian Government declares again that it has no intention of menacing anyone, and that the unchangeable basis of its foreign policy remains complete absence from aggression.

An Istanbul message says political circles in Ankara declare that the pact implies a Bulgarian engagement not to attack Greece. The Berlin radio stated that tiie German Ambassador in Turkey, Herr von Papen, tendered a dinner to the Bulgarian Minister at Ankara and a number of Turkish personalities. He congratulated the guests on the signature of tiie Turkish-Bulgarian Pact.