BALKANS PERPLEXED

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 9

BALKANS PERPLEXED

SLOW ADVANCE BY

ITALIANS

ROME RADIO EXPLANATION

LONDON, October 31

The Sofia correspondent of the "Daily Mail" says that the Italians' slow advance in Greece is causing bewilderment in the Balkans.

Messages from Rome ostentatiously describe the operations as a "punitive expedition," and Axis propaganda even hints that the war will fizzle out when the Italians have gained a few successes for prestige. The Rome radio says: "The Italian advance is not being pursued with lightning speed because we still hope that the Greek Government will repent its rash action. Secondly, mountain fighting must be slow and sure, economising in lives and material before sweeping" in a conquering advance." The Ankara correspondent of "The Times" says the Turks accept the Italian invasion of Greece as being advantageous to Britain, on the ground that Greek bases will bring Britain nearer to Italy while not bringing Italy nearer to Africa. The Turks, he says, will be much disappointed if Britain does not take advantage of the conflict between Italy and Greece by putting her air force within bombing range of. the Italian ports and the Rumanian oilfields. It is not believed that Germany will be ready to move from Rumania before the winter, which renders military operations impracticable.