BALKAN TURMOIL

Evening Star, Issue 23657, 17 August 1940, Page 11

BALKAN TURMOIL

ITALIAN TROOPS ON GREEK FRONTIER

BULGARIA PREPARED TO MARCH TURKEY WILL ENTER WAR IF GREECE ATTACKED Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, August 16. The * Daily Express ’ says that Italian troops are reported to be concentrating on the Grecian-Albanian frontier. The Turkish envoys in Athens have been instructed to do their utmost to mediate in the dispute between Greece and Bulgaria over Macedonia. If Mussolini attacks Greece, Bulgaria is prepared to march. It is also reported that the Bulgarians are massing on the Rumanian border ready to move into the southern Dobruja,

An Istanbul message states that a deputy, M. Aetchin, in an article in the ‘ Yenisabah,’ said an Italian attack against Greece would bring Turkey into the war beside Britain, An Athens message says it is reported that Italian planes bombed the Greek ship Frinton off Crete. All the bombs missed. The Rome radio declared that the Greek province of Janina was on the point of being returned to Albania. An Italian warship is reported to have halted the Greek steamer Appeti, with 400 passengers, en route from Lisbon to Piraeus. The Appeti, which is not listed at Lloyd’s, was taken to Palermo. The Greek authorities are still unable to establish the identity of the submarine which sank the cruiser Helle, but an Admiralty communique states that no British submarine was in that locality at the time. SINKING OF GREEK CRUISER BRITAIN’S MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 16. (Received August 17, at 10.10 a.m.) The First Lord of the Admiralty sent the following telegram to the Minister of Marine at Athens:—“ It is with the greatest regret that I heard that the cruiser Helle, while taking part in the ceremonies of the Festival of the Assumption, was sunk by a submerged submarine. On behalf of the Board of Admiralty and officers and men of the Royal Navy, I wish to express profound sympathy with the Royal Greek Navy.” ITALY’S DISCLAIMER ROME, August 16. (Received August 17 ,at 11.55 a.m.) It is officially claimed: that no Italian submarine torpedoed the Helle. ,The spokesman said the sinking was' a British manoeuvre intended to make worse. Italian and Greek relations. He added that Italy would demand reparations from Greece for the killing of Hoggia, and would continue her demands for justice for Albania. INCREASINGLY SERIOUS TURKISH VIEW OF SITUATION ISTANBUL,, August 16. (Received August 17, at 1 p.m.) M. Saydam conferred with the Greek Minister, and held a conference with navy and army chiefs. Turkey is viewing the Italian-Greek situation increasingly seriously. President Ineunu conferred with von Papen (the German Ambassador). GREEK DESTROYERS BOMBED TENSION IN CAPITAL INCREASING ATHENS, August 16. (Received August 17,' at 11.55 a.m.) Unknown planes bombed, but did not hit, two Greek destroyers hound for Tines. Tension in the capital is increasing. ITALIAN PLANES IDENTIFIED LONDON, August 16. (Received August 17, at 12.10 p.m.) The Athens correspondent of the Associated Press says the commanders of the bombed destroyers sent a radio message to the Ministry of the Navy accusing Italian bombers of making the attack. The destroyers were the Vasilevs Giorgios and the Vasilis Saolga, which, despite a shower of bombs, did not retaliate, but zigzagged at full speed. HUNGARY AND RUMANIA DELEGATES’ CONFERENCE ADJOURNED BERLIN, August 16. (Received August 17, at 11.55 a.m.) The Hungarian and Rumanian negotiations which opened this morning at Turnuseverin were broken off after 30 minutes because the Rumanians wished to consult their Government,