STIFFENING TONE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20151, 22 January 1940, Page 7

STIFFENING TONE

NEUTRAL STATES DUTCH PRECAUTIONS ANXIETY IN BALKANS TROUBLE IN SPRING SCANDINAVIAN STAND (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Jan. 22, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 21. There is a stiffening throughout Europe in the determination of neutral States to maintain their independence. The Netherlands Government considers that the frontier situation is too serious to permit of a relaxation of precautions, despite the resumption of leave in the Belgian army. Travellers from Berlin were provided with further evidence of unusual preparations. All trains are stopped 45 miles from the frontier and only passengers with tickets for the Netherlands are allowed to proceed. The carriage blinds are then drawn. Nazi guards patrol the corridors, closely watching to ensure that nobody peeps out. A passenger who was able to risk an ocasional glance behind the blinds, said that the country was deserted and the towns evacuated. A large number of hospital trains were travelling from the west, fully occupied, suggesting that there were more casualties in the Siegfried Line than was thought, or else that there was much illness among the troops. Troops in Galicia Four German divisions are reported to have arrived on the RumanianGalician frontier. German troops have entered Russia en route to Odessa and the Turkish frontier. The Sunday Times’ Belgrade correspondent says that there have been Russian, in addition to German, troop movements in Galicia. The Germans have also Germanised the Slovak army, and are purging unreliable elements. , German forces in northwest Slovakia and south Poland are equal to General Weygand’s Near East forces.

The Belgrade correspondent of the Times says that the entry of Germans resulted in a German-Russian trade agreement, which is now being negotiated, under which Germany will have economic concessions in Polish Galicia to develop oil production. Germany has dispatched engineers and skilled workmen under military escort. \

The Sunday Times says that Italy has asked Germany her attitude in the event of Russian expansion in the Balkans, emphasising that Italy will not tolerate Russian penetration in regard to which she reserves full liberty of action.

Turkey for Democracy

The Turkish Prime Minister, Refik Saydam, told the Turkish Parliament that talks between Turkey and Bulgaria have established their friendship and identity of views in efforts to stabilise peace and security in the Balkans. He added that Turkey had decided democracy was the best course.

Yugoslavia to-day called up five classes of reservists. War materials, mostly from Italy, are constantly arriving. Evacuation plans are complete. According to the opinion of the General Staff trouble is possible in the spring. The Danish Parliament has assured Sweden that Denmark will not allow Danish territory to be ujsed as a German base in event of Russian and German action against Sweden. Parliament passed an all-party motion declaring that Denmark will fight, if necessary, to defend her neutrality and independence. The only dissentient was a German minority member. The Swedish Foreign Minister, M. Stauning, said that Sweden officially was very cautions regarding the extent of the aid given to Finland, but the contributions from industry, mostly in the form of materials and supplies reached £3,500,000, in addition to £500,000 in cash.

Contingents of volunteers, convoys and lorries laden with supplies leave daily for Finland. The Government has announced that the digging of air-raid shelter trenches will begin immediately in all parks. It is erecting shelters in the market places and speeding up large underground shelters. Norway’s Parliament expressed identical views to those of Denmark.