AXIS INSECURITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 2, 2 July 1943, Page 5

AXIS INSECURITY

GREECE & YUGOSLAVIA

SOFIA AS HEADQUARTERS Cfji.v Teicgrapli—l Press ■A'ssociatiori-^Copyrlght.) liec.::i2.4s''i3.ni • . LONDON, -July 1. I It is learned, from a reliable source that -General Lohr, the. Axis Com-mander-hi-Chief in the Balkans, has decided that Sofia shall become the supreme operational headquarters for the entire Balkans, reports Reuters Cairo correspondent. This decision was reached at v conference between German and Italian military chiefs and the heads of the Bulgarian Government. .'...■ ;

The Axis commands in Greece and Yugoslavia have been withdrawn, leaving only the regional headquarters. The overriding reason for the change is believed to be the strong feeling of insecurity in these two countries, and also the realisation that in the event of Allied landings popular uprisings would be practically certain. By centralising the defence of the Balkans in the Bulgarian capital General. Lohr will'be better able to control all the defence forces.of southeastern Europe, andalso to; - synch'ron-, ise his .measures against invasion. :.

Indicating doubt and uneasiness about where Allied blows will fall, Berlin radio's naval commentator, Admiral Lutzow, says: "From North Cape, Norway, 'to the Aegean Sea there are few places which have not been named as possible or probable landing points. These discussions,make us remember the greatest attempt in history to-attack the European coastline from the sea —the Gallipoli landing in the last war. All of the enemy's assaults were defeated, with, heavy losses."

Paris radio reports that feverish activity continues at Gibraltar. A convoy of 25 cargo ships arrived from the Mediterranean and another convoy arrived from the Atlantic. Both were heavily escorted. The military writer of the "Yorkshire Post" says the enemy is showing nervousness about the Bordeaux route to the Gulf of Lyons and is said to be strengthening the area north of the Pyrenees.