The Dominion FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1943. UNREST IN THE BALKANS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 94, 15 January 1943, Page 4

The Dominion FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1943. UNREST IN THE BALKANS

According to latest reports there is evidence of very widespiead unrest throughout the Balkan States. This part of South-Eastern Europe is held under German domination for both military and economic reasons. If internal disorders in the various States bec; line really serious, the effects would react upon German strategy, for Hit ei would be obliged to augment his occupation troops to safeguard Axis military interests. To have a clearer understanding of the position it is necessary to review the relationships of the Balkan States to tie xis. Hungary is definitely allied to the Axis, but from ulterior motives rather than from sincere attachment to totalitarian principles. ic German bribe for Hungary’s allegiance is the promise of a 0 Transylvania at the expense of Rumania, who covets and ff e whole of that region. Hostile feeling between these two Stat “ s said to have become acute, so much so, it has been reported, that I garian forces have been stationed on the Rumanian frontiei instead 0 being sent to the Russian front to relieve the pressure there_. Rumania formerly under guarantee of protection by Britain and Fiance, but swung over to the Axis side following the establishment of Genera Antonescu’s dictatorship, has since had reason, in the heavy ° s^ s divisions have suffered recently in fighting with the Germans a b a 111st the Russians, to regret her new alignment with Hitler and Mussohm. This alignment could not, in the nature of the circumstances have been widely popular among the Rumanian people then and must be still le ' is completely hostile to the Axis, and a constant• 1,1 Italy’s side. Yugoslavia is split between the rival affiliations of the Croats and the Serbs. The Croats have a puppet government undei Axis tutelage, while the Serbs, tinder their famous guerrilla general, have made the task of the German occupation troops holding down the country so difficult that these have had to be heavily reinforced The Serb leader. General Mihailovich, has a guerrilla army of from 145,000 to 150,000, and, according to reports, its successfulactivities have compelled the Axis to maintain divisions totalling 400000 to uphold its position in that part of the country. Bulgaria is allied to the Axis, but since the German attack on Russia this allegiance has become popularly weakened by the disinclination of the Bulgarians, who are Slavs, to make war on their Slav neighbours, the Russians. On the other hand, it is considered that they would have no hesitation about attacking Turkey, their old enemy, and the prospect of wat with that country is said to be the most popular theme of discussion among the Bulgars s . Greece, it need hardly be added, is merely awaiting the day and the opportunity for turning against her German a^r^ It will thus be seen that the Axis Powers have no cause for complacency regarding their hold on the Balkans. It rests partly on conquest, partly on political bribery and corruption and, finally, and most important, upon the developments of events on the Russian froi t The present trend of these events has had reactions in the Balkans in the lowering of German military prestige, and fears of the future foxing the defeat of the Axis in the war, an eventuality the possibility 0 which bv this time must have begun to penetrate the minds of the Balkan peoples as something of a grim reality.. The present outbieak of inf wnal disorders may be symptomatic of just such leactions.