TROOP MOVEMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1940, Page 5

TROOP MOVEMENTS

' ACTIVITY IN BALKANS ANTI-AGGRESSION MEASURES [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] i A . ; , LONDON. May 6. ; The Sofia correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that Bulgarian officials state that at least 50,000 Turkish soldiers are concentrated on the Turkish-Greek frontier. • The Budapest correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that Russia is reported to have concentrated six to eight motorised divisions, representing 100,000 to 150,000 men, on the Ruthenian border.

German military activity in Slovakia is also reported. The Germans are moving large quantities of munitions and other supplies eastward. Slovak aeroplanes dropped leaflets over Hungarian minority districts saying: “The day of' liberation is near. Get ready. Herr Hitler is with us. The glorious Slovak army will deliver you from the jMagyar yoke.”

I Slovakia was attacked in a. Hungarian broadcast relayed to the United States on Saturday night. The Slovaks were accused of subversive [activity in all fields, not only against 'the Magyar minority in Slovakia, but against the Hungarian State itself. Relations were already strained to [breaking point, it was claimed. ■ The [statement made by Count Czaky, the Hungarian Foreign Minister#?-, was recalled. He said that Hungary.. would not hesitate to act in defence of her honour if the rights of the. Hungarian minority were not recognised. The Official German News Agency mentioned troop movements on both sides of the Bulgarian-Jugoslav frontier. “SITUATION VERY SERIOUS” LONDON, May 6. The Athens correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that German sources have spread a rumour that an Allied landing at Salonika is imminent. A fisherman said that there were no signs of it, although he reported sighting British warships on patrol duty in the Aegean Sea. The Istanbul correspondent -of “The Times” says that, the situation is considered very serious, although hopes of maintaining peace are not abandoned. The German Ambassador to Turkey (Herr; von Papen) has volunteered a profuse assurance that Germany and Italy had no aggressive designs in the Balkans, but this is not received with more than polite interest by the Turkish Press, which repeats the Government’s statements that aggression in the eastern Mediterranean or the Balkans will not leave Turkey indifferent. Egypt is calm. General air defence exercises in Egypt will commence tomorrow, and the country will be blacked out for a week. British and Egyptian troops are engaging in desert manoeuvres; and guards will be placed on public buildings. The French Press says precautionary measures are being taken in the Balkans, and Turkey, Greece, and Egypt are preparing for a sudden turn of events.

FASCIST VISION.

LONDON, May. 6. According to a report from Rome, Signor Ansaldo, director of the newspaper “11 Telegrafo.” broadcasting to Italian troops, said: “Germany certainly and soon will repeat Napoleon’s attempt to invade England. Now that the Norwegian chapter is complete, a fresh chapter of a vaster war is opening. You will witness more remarkable things which will shake-'the pillars of the world.” The German and Italian Press adopted the same theme of superiority of their air fleets over the strongest naval forces. “BE PREPARED.” (Recd. Maj- 7. 10.15 a.m.). ROME. May 6. Signor Muti, secretary of the Fascist Party, paid a surprise visit to Bari, an important military zone, and warned local members of the l party that they must prepare for any emergency. BRITAIN’S PEACE EFFORTS RUGBY, May 6. The British Ambassador to Italy is expected lo arrive at Rome to-night. The British Government’s desire to maintain and improve negotiations with Italy is in no way diminished by reason of the fact that she has felt herself compelled to- take certain measures of a precautionary character in the Mediterranean. These precautions were rendered necessary by the attitude of certain sections of the Italian Press and by recent utterances of some prominent Italians. Through these negotiations, Britain continues to hope that peace will be maintained in the Mediterranean areas. NAZI PROPAGANDA. i RUGBY, May 6. It is noticeable that, in the past 36 hours, the German wireless and news services have been particularly active in spreading unscrupulous stories about impending trouble in south-east Europe. These allegations and reports are often mutually conflicting. Some issued from Berlin are denied , —also from Berlin —an hour or two after. . The exact purpose of propai ganda cannot at the moment be exact- . ly determined, but the technique is well-known in London, from previous . experiences of German methods. By ; spreading such reports and innuen- • does, the Nazis seek to create an att mosphere of uncertainty, which can t be turned to the advantage of Hitler’s > plans, whenever they desire.

ITALIAN “PRECAUTIONS.’’ (Recd. May 7, 12.30 p.m.) ■ LONDON, May 6. , Reports from Jugoslavia suggesting Italy is reinforcing troops and concentrations on the, Jugoslav frontier gained weight . when . authoritative quarters, according, to / the , Associated Press’s .Rome . correspondent admitted Italy was taking precautions “because of British-and French intrigues."