EAST FRONTS

Grey River Argus, 14 February 1940, Page 7

EAST FRONTS

NAZI-SOVIET PACT BEING STRENGTHENED Black Sea Fleet Ready BIG TRADE AGREEMENT. LAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, February 12. “The Times” Moscow correspondent states: Admiral Okiabrsky, Com-mander-in-Chief of the Black Sea Fleet, revealed that the fleet is already in fighting trim. The surface and submarine fleets have been doubled, the anti-aircraft and coastal defences increased. The fleet is now capable of protecting the rich oilfields in the Baku region, which provide more than half the Soviet oil. THE TRADE AGREEMENT LONDON, February 12. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that Germany and Russia have concluded a new and extensive trade agreement, and an official announcement is imminent. AMSTERDAM, February 12. The German-Russian agreement, was signed, at Moscow. It provides a yearly turnover of 1,000,000,000 marks (£83,000,000 pre-war rates) Germany.to erect a series of factories for Russia and Russia, reciprocally to supply raw materials, including ore, petroleum, food stuffs and particularly large quantities of grain. Neutral observers in Berlin express the opinion that transport difficulties are ..the great obstacle to the fulfilment of the agreement, for which reason Germany is striving to improve the tracks and increase the rolling stock. GALICIAN OIL. LONDON, February 12. It is reported that ten train-loads of German troops with equipment, are going to Kolomyja on the Galician oilfields. German Forces ACTIVITY IN CZECH TERRITORY. (Received February 14, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON February 13. A new movement of German troops in Bohemia and Moravia to Slovakia, and considerable activity of the military in Prague, is reported by a Havas Agency correspondent on the German frontier. He says that hospitals in Bohemia and Moravia have been ordered to reserve fifty thousand beds by March 14th. An order has been issued commandeering all horses. The authorities have been instructed to organise defence against a possible Czech rising. Fresh arrests of Benes supporters are occurring.

German Stroke POSSIBLE IN NEAR EAST. (Received February 14, 1.30 a.m.) PARIS, February 13. Madame Tabouis, in an article in “L’Oeuvre,” says: “Herr Hitler is convinced that Russia is incapable of an offensive campaign. Therefore, he is considering an unaided German thrust in the Near East, directed at the Dardanelles. The General Staff is opposed to this, owing to Turkeys military and strategic strength.” She adds that Germany is planning an economic offensive, and is sending missions to Afghanistan and possibly to Iran. GERMAN BID. FOR TURKISH SUBMARINE LONDON. February 12. "The Times” Belgrade correspondent says: The seizure of Krupp’s yard prevented a German attempt to steal a Turkish submarine. Two submarines were already launched. One was nearly ready when 20 extra specialists arrived from Germany, ostensibly for the trials. The Turks became suspicious, when the specialists suggested, in view of the danger in the first trials, there should be an entirely German crew. Suspicion was increased when stores lai in excess of those needed for a trial were demanded. The authorities informed the Government, which ordered the occupation of the yards. ANGLO-TURKISH TREATY RUGBY, February 12. The text of the agreement respecting trade and payments between Britain and Turkey has been published. Although abrogating previous agreements between Britain and Turkey, the present agreement has the effect of incorporating them, so far as the liquidation of transactions already commenced under them. From February 19, the date upon which the agreement, comes into force, mutual exports will become the subject of compensation transactions, in which may be incorporated produce up to 25 per cent, of the total sum received by the British and Turkish clearing office, exported to Turkey from such territories, other than the United Kingdom, as may be agreed between the parties. Goods exported by either country to the other must be accompanied by a certification of origin issued by the Governmentauthorised body, and the f.o.b. value of compensation goods exported to Turkey must not exceed 80 per cent, of the f.o.b. value of goods exported from Turkey. <

Debts due from persons in Turkey to persons in the United Kingdom, in respect of compensation transactions will be deposited in Turkish pounds in a special account at the Control Bank of the Republic of Turkey, and debts due from persons in the United Kingdom to persons in Turkey, under reverse transactions, will be deposited in sterling at the Bank of. England for the account of the Controller of the Anglo-Turkish clearing office. The arrangements made for regulating the computation of exchange notes, where payment is other than Turkish or pounds sterling, provide that the London selling rates of currency on the

date of payment shall be the ruling price. ITALY FORTIFIES FRONTIERS LONDON, February 12. The American Press Belgrade correspondent states: Italy is hurriedly fortifying her German-Yugoslav frontiers, the Udine Province, also the Brenner Pass zone. Large sums allocated to public works in January, have been secretly diverted to the Brenner pill-boxes, pn which the work has. been continuous for the last four months. CENTRAL EUROPEAN ARMIES SPRING MANOEUVRES. BUDAPEST, February 12. A number of countries are preparing for the spring manoeuvres. So far there is no general mobilisation in this part of Europe. TRADE AGREEMENTS. SOFIA, February 12. M. Koisseivanoff and M., Yourichitch, the Jugoslav Minister, signed two additional protocols to the commercial treaty' of 1934.