UNREST IN BALKANS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1943, Page 2

UNREST IN BALKANS

RUMANIAN KING’S STAND.

(Recd. 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, July 22. Widespread unrest is reported in the Balkans since the Axis reverses in Sicily and Russia. The Algiers radio says that all army leave has been stopped in Rumania, where rebellion is reported to have broken out in Bucharest. A message from Rumania states that King Michael and his mother, Queen Helen are leading an open rebellion against the Nazi forces there. The trouble is reported to have started when it was announced that additional Rumanian troops were to be sent to Russia. Michael with the support of the Rumanian Peasant Party Leader. Maniu, demanded the withdrawal of all Rumanian troops to the Bessarabian border with Russia. BULGARIAN ATTITUDE. * LONDON, July 22. A Cabinet crisis has arisen in Bulgaria as a result of a speech by the War Minister wherein he declared the Bulgarian Army intended to defend only Bulgarian soil. It is believed the declaration offended the Germans, who are determined to have an entirely pro-Axis Bulgarian Government.. The Berlin News Agency reported that four men and one woman were sentenced to death at Sofia for espionage. The police discovered an extensive spy network sending out reports from radio transmitters al Varna Plovdiv. JUGOSLAV LEADERS. NEW YORK, July 22. The “New York Times’s” correspondent, Mr. Cyrus Sulzberger, in a despatch from Cairo, says: The British. announcement of a military liaison established with the Jugoslav partisans under their Chieftain, Tito, is not tantamount to recognition of the partisan civilians’ Government, but indicates that the British are trying to conciliate the rival forces in Jugoslav resistance, which is closely linked with Allied invasion plans' The success of the partisans only recently is shown by well-sub-stantiated claims that they destroyed 250 Axis trains traversing Croatia. The wording of the British announcement confirms the wide belief that Britain’s affections for Mikhailovitch have considerably cooled off, while it is at least equally backing the partisans. It is certain that Russia is pleased, because Moscow is admittedly pro-Tito and anti-Mik-hailovitch, but it should not be deduced that the British have withdrawn support from Mikhailovitch. Indeed, it is known that supplies sent secretly to Jugoslavia are now equally divided between both. The Berlin radio says that the German Commander in Crotia has offered a reward of one hundred thousand marks, the equivalent of £B.OOO for the capture of Tito, dead or alive.