ATTACK SOON

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 140, 10 March 1941, Page 7

ATTACK SOON

Germans Put Out Story In Balkans

ANOTHER ONE AT HOME

LONDON, March 7.

A German offensive against Thrace and East Macedonia is possible within 48 hours, according to reports circulated by the Germans. With undiminished speed, the Germans have poured across Bulgaria to offensive positions on the Macedonian and Turwkish frontiers. Munitions, tanks, and heavy mechanized units have replaced the first flow of antiaircraft batteries and field guns.

Reports from Sofia state that the Greeks are bolstering up the Struma Valley defences. It is considered that General Papagos might abandon Thrace as indefensible.

Britain is reported to be sending all the equipment she can spare to Turkey, which is the sole Power able to Harass a German march into Greece. The succes of the Grvk defences in the Struma Valley largely depends upon Yugoslav neutrality. Yugoslavia may escape by signing a pact with the Axis.

London officials point out, however, that while officials in Berlin were informing neutral correspondents that it would be some time before the German troops in Bulgaria would be ready to start operations against Greece, the story was put out from Sofia tonight that an attack might be launched .within 48 hours.

This mass of contradictory reports overshadows the whole Balkan scene, in acoerdance with the usual Nazi methods. Neither 4n Turkey nor in Greece has it had any effect. The Turkish Press today published strong warnings against accepting any German assurances. The Turkish Parliament is to meet on Monday, and a statementexpected from the Foreign Min‘<_-r later next week.

Berlin newspapers this afternoon carried front-page reports of a supposed British plot to commit sabotage in Yugoslavia. The reports, which are also given prominence in Italian and German broadcasts, allege that the Yugoslav authorities have arrested eight people for allegedly attempting dynamiting operations along the Dalmatian coast

The German broadcast said: “It has been observed for a considerable time that British couriers carry conspicuously heavy luggage.” In it, according to the Germans, are the explosives with which the wicked British attack neutral countries.

The Berlin radio, quoting a report from Belgrade, says that the police at Split arrested five persons on a charge of sabotage against bauxite ships. The announcer alleged that two of those arrested were connected with the British Consulate.

It is recalled that similar allegations made made before the German attack on Rumania and Bulgaria.