GERMAN DIVISIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1941, Page 7

GERMAN DIVISIONS

MASSED IN RUMANIA THREAT TO BULGARIA

[BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, February 17.

The flow of German troops through Rumania to the Bulgarian frontier is continuing. A 'great number of troops have been sent to the frontier in the past few days. Sir Reginald Hoare, the former British Minister to Rumania, who has arrived in Turkey, told the British United Press that he considers there are 350,000 German troops now in Rumania, and the former British Consul in Constanza said that 45,000 troops were concentrated at that port. , Ration cards for clothing and shoes will come into force in Bulgaria today. A Reuter report from Sofia states that while there are no uniformed troops in Bulgaria, 30 divisions, or about 600,000 men are massed in Rumania.

Bridges are being mined, barracks equipped, and food supplies organised in Bulgaria for the coming campaign. Squads of Hungarian troops have been attempting to dynamite masses of ice which are blocking the Danube, and which have forced the river up to the level with the tops of the dykes.

OFFENSIVE PREDICTED (Recd. Feb. 18, 11.50 a.m.). LONDON, February 17. Turkish official circles, while not defining their attitude in the case of a German partial or whole occupation of Bulgaria, declare they will not commit the blunder of allowing the establishment of bases in Bulgaria for aggression, says an Istanbul correspondent. Most estimates give only two to three weeks before the German offensive is launched in the Balkans. Diplomatic circles in contact with the Axis express the opinion that Germany will attack at several points, choosing a weak spot for the decisive blow. She hopes to bring Japan into the war, with a view to immobilising the maximum number of British forces in the various theatres.

The Ankara radio states that all lighthouses are blacked-out in the zone extending 15 miles southward and northward of Constanza. The entire area is declared dangerous for shipping.

TURKEY AND BULGARIA. NON-AGGRESSION PACT. (Recd. Feb. 18, 9.15 a.m. LONDON, February 17. The Associated Press correspondent from Sofia reports that reliable informants say Bulgaria and Turkey have reached a- non-aggression accord.

TURKISH DIPLOMACY. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, February 17. News reaching London to-night regarding the agreement of friendship concluded between Turkey and Bulgaria shows that negotiations on. this subject between the two countries have come to an end. For some time past, Turkey’s diplomatic efforts have been consistently directed to the difficult task qf building up a united front among the Balkan countries, for the purpose of resisting Axis aggression. Having regard, however, to the advanced condition of the German entry into Bulgaria, it is hard to see how the actual political situation in the Balkans can seriouslyjoe_affected by the present agreement. It may safely be assumed that Turkey will have safeguarded her freedom of action, under the existing treaty obligations. As might be. expected, German propaganda is already at work concerning this agreement.

SIR R. HOARE’S REPORT. (Recd. Feb. 18, 9.15 a.m.). ISTANBUL, February If. Sir Reginald Hoare has arrived. He said that 350,000 German troops are in Rumania. Sixteen hundred Jews were killed in the recent Iron Guard revolt. „ , .j „„ “One of my last acts, he said, was to hand General Antonescu the British protest regarding the sending of 3000 Polish refugees from Rumania to Germany. “A break-off of relations was inevitable when the Germans took ovei the country completely. Most Rumanians like the British, and regi etted the break. In my last chat with General Antonescu, he was friendly. He said it was most unkind to breakoff relations with Rumania, and not with Hungary. The General seems to be trying to convince himself that Germany will win.” Sir R. Hoare revealed that some Rumanian friends whispered to him at the station, “Come soon and bomb us.”

JUGOSLAVIAN SACRIFICES (Recd. Feb. 18, 9.15 a.m.). BELGRADE, February 17. M Kulovitch, Minister without portfolio, states that the visit of the Premier to Germany has secured the future of Jugoslavia. “The Government, under the Prince Regent, has done everything to maintain peace and will continue its efforts. We must bear the sacrifices made on the altar ol peace.”

ARMY OPPOSE CONCESSIONS. (Recd. Feb. 18, 11.50 a.m.). LONDON, February 17. The “Evening Standard’s” Belgrade correspondent states that, in spite of Government hints regarding sacrifices, the Jugoslav army is solidly against territorial concessions. The General Staff does not favour Hitler s offer of part of Albania and the port of Salonika if Jugoslavia aligns herself with the new order.

RUMANIAN RESIGNATIONS. RUGBY, February 17. Disagreement with the attitude of their Government in the face of German pressure accounts for the resignation which has been reported to the British Foreign Office, of the Rumanian Charge d’Affaires in London, M. Florescu, and his Press attache, M. Murger.

GERMAN CONTROL.

(Recd. Feb. 18, 11.50 a.m.). LONDON, February 17.

An Istanbul message states that the final phases of the repression of the disturbances in Rumania have enabled Germany to secure the control of the railways, telephones, and police. The German effectives comprise 500,000, the greater part being immobilised in Moldavia, along the Soviet frontier.

POLITICAL PARTIES BANNED BUCHAREST, February 16. General Antonescu has banned all political parties, thus cancelling the decree establishing the Iron Guard as the only political party in Ruma, nia, and declaring the country a legionary State. . The Official News Agency denied further unrest in the country, adding that this is impossible, because the Government has taken new and drastic measures, and has arrested all the leaders of the January revolt.

TURKISH CEREAL STOCKS. LONDON, February 16. “The Times’s” Ankara correspondent says that the Turkish Government is building up large stocks of flour, and’is requisitioning all cereals and grains surplus to requirements, also creating a State-owned concern with branches throughout the country, with a view to buying, stocking and distributing all kinds of commodities, enabling regulations prices and curbing profiteering.