MEDITERRANEAN CONTROL

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 May 1940, Page 7

MEDITERRANEAN CONTROL

' ALLIED FLEETS ARRIVE BALKAN DEVELOPMENTS « to [by cable —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, May 4. There was an ominous assembly of significant reports from the eastern /Mediterranean last night. Although lacking official character, they emphasise (,the delicacy of .the situation. Italy is reported to be massing troops, warships, and aircraft in the Dodecanese islands. This coincides with the arrival of strong squadrons of the Allied fleets at Alexandria. Italy is reported to have 1,200,000 men under arms, excluding reinforcements in the Dodecanese.' In the Dodecanese the Italians areZsaid about 50,000 troops aniU I's- submarines.

Alexandria is in a state of absolute readiness. The coastal batteries are manned, military flying is restricted, and the Air Force will be ready for an instant call. '<' ' ;

The Allied warships at Alexandria form only a. first contingent. The rest of the fleet, mainly cruisersand smaller craft, is expected to-morrow. Army and police leave in Alexandria has been stopped. Other precautions include a desert air watch, which comprises a chain of lonely Egyptian army sentinels linked by telephone from the western frontier of Egypt to the Nile delta. The black-out is continuing in Malta . ■

The Italian air line has suspended its service to Abyssinia via Egypt and Libya. Six Italian bombers bound for Abyssinia landed at the Cairo air port. The tone of the Italian 'press is harsh and belligerent. The newspapers publish news of • the-movement of the Allied fleets, but they give first place to the “Allies’ ” cruel defeats in Norway, which is the first hard blow to proud Albion.”

Jugoslavia is the centre of speculation as the possible touchstone for any action.in the Mediterranean. Italy has already protested at Jugoslavia’s recent defence measures, but Belgrade officials say that they are a result of the arrival of Italian workmen on the Albanian frontier who are generally believed to be troops. Jugoslavian officials and Italian and German diplomatic circles to-night declared that nothing had happened to alter the character of Jugoslavia’s non-aggressioJl treaties with Italy and Germany.

The Belgrade correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that ?the Italian Legation is reported to be removing documents to Rome and destroying others.

-The Jugoslav police have arrested 250 Germans. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the German Ambassador to Italy (General von Mackensen) returned from Rome’and conferred with Herr Hitler. It is reliably stated that he brought a message from Signor Mussolini. GERMAN THRUST EXPECTED. According to. political quarters, a German thrust in the Balkans will not be Iqng delayed, because “now Britain’s plan in Scandinavia has misfired, she is going to try her luck in the Mediterranean.” Authorised statements and newspaper comment indicate that Germany is preparing 'to be confronted with action in the Mediterranean and possibly the Balkans. Reports from Bulgaria state ’ that the British Ambassador to Turkey (Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen) bps arrived at Sofia. Sofia has also been visited by the German trade emmissary (Dr. Clodius), who is reported to be in Bulgaria for private reasons only. However, he has had talks with King Boris and the Bulgarian Ministers for Finance and Trade.

From Turkey, it is reported that the German Ambassador (Herr von Papen) has gone to Berlin. The Turkish authorities arrested the archaeologist, Professor von Osten, on suspicion of espionage but he wgs later released. The police explained that they could not prove the charg.es against him. Increased defensive measures have been adopted by all the Balkan Powers, and there are increasing signs of co-operation with the Allies, particularly in the policing of the Danube. Roumania is reported to have intensified the drive against foreign tourists. It has been announced that the river permits of 240 Germans have been cancelled, although these Germans have lived in,Roujnania for a number of years. Expulsions have followed the arrest of a number of other persons. The new system making it compulsory for visitors ■to Bucharest to carry permits is being strictly enforced. . -

The Roumanian Government has forbidden , all traffic 0n.... the, river Danube at night time in order to prevent sabotage of the;"Cernavoda bridge, and the CdnstaiiW'iilpeline. Navigation of the Danube during storms is also prohibited. An' official Hungarian broadcast stated: Intolerable provocations by the Slovak .Government are being watched with anxiety and misgiving. It is realised that these activities are directed against the very existence of the Hungarian State.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR RETURNS.

RUGBY, May 5.

The British Ambassador to Rome, who has been for some time home on leave, is returning to his post. . Sir Percy Loraine was present at the discussions which Lord Halifax had a few weeks ago with the British diplomatic representatives in southeastern Europe, who had been specially summoned to London for the purpose. He will therefore be able to give the ..Italian. Government, should it require it, tpi-fuller-'-and more-inti-mate account of"the proceedings, the purport of which must already be known to it, and the essence of which lies in. the settled policy of Britain, defined in the official statement issued after the consultations, by the Foreign Office, as “the preservation of peace and the promotion of securi ity in the Balkan and Danubian countries.”

As Professor E. H. Carr points out iff the “Sunday Times,” to-day, that is in the Italian interest, no less than the British.

Since the return to south-east European capitals of the British diplomats'who took part in the discussions with Lord Halifax, events in other directions have increased rather than diminished' the anxieties which beset these States. It has been again demonstrated that neither strict neutrality nor non-provocation verging on

Compliance, nor guarantees, nor promises, rior pledges, will save any country from German attack, if the tortuous developments of Nazi policy require its subjugation. There has been plenty of evidence in the past fortnight that, in face of this renewed warning, nations situated wherever Germany , can disturb the peace are increasing their vigilance and precautions. British policy; which- stands in opposition to any extension of hostilities at their expense, must be to. them one of the few reassuring factors in the anxious situation. ALLIES’ NAVAL STRENGTH . RUGBY, May 5. The fact disclosed by Mr. Chamberlain, last week, that the destruction of a considerable proportion of the Ger- 1 man fleet off the Norwegian coast has enabled the Allies safely; to revert to the normal distribution of their navies in the Mediterranean, ..is naturally unpalatable diet for German consumption.

It appears likely it is the secret fear that sea-power is still the. dominating factor in the war, that inspires the present intense Nazi propaganda, which continues to declare that the British’Fleet- suffered severe losses at the hands of the' German Air Force, proving, according to an " “official statement” published by the Transocean News Service, that “the supremacy “of a fleet, however strong, can be broken in an age of aerial warfare, wherever the far-reaching hand of this new weapon hits with strength and lightning speed.”. Disinterested observers will wonder how this contention can be reconciled with the reinforcement of the Allied fleet in the Mediterranean, especially if that account of its. strength be as great as that stated by the Transocean Athens correspondent, who says: “The Allied fleet concentration at Alexandria comprises the second French squadron and several British units, including three battleships.’” The correspondent also.? states: “Apart from the vessels already at Alexandria, seven, light' .cruisers ■ and- four destroyed have been despatched' to the Eastern Mediterranean.” It will occur -to them that, if Germany’s repeated claims to have sunk or badly damaged 136 British naval units during the first phase of the Norwegian campaign are correct, it is impossible that the Mediterranean fleet is able to be augmented to any appreciable degree.

TENSE SITUATION.!

(Recd. May 6, 1.15 p.m.)

LONDON, May 5.

The hostile tone of the Italian Press and the’ presence of strong Allied squadrons at Alexandria have not lessened anxiety about the Mediterranean situation.

Despatches from Alexandria say the fleets are now at full strength. Egypt is vigilant. The Defence Minister announced -that she is prepared to repulse attack, wherever it might come. The German and Italian Press adopted the same theme of superiority of air fleets over the strongest naval forces.

The French Press says that precautionary measures are being taken in the Balkans and Turkey, Greece, and Egypt, preparing for any sudden turn of events.