YUGOSLAV WHEAT

Grey River Argus, 29 July 1940, Page 8

YUGOSLAV WHEAT

SMALLER CROP PREDICTED.

BELGRADE, July 26

The Belgrade newspaper “Polilika” states that this year’s wheat crop will be catastrophic, probably 30 per cent smaller than last year’s. It is expected to produce 200,000 truck-loads, whereas 245,000 are required for home consumption. A shortage of maize is already felt, although Yugoslavia is normally an exporter of maize. The maize reserves are depleted as a result of the increase in home consumption, also large deliveries to the Axis. The Roumanian wheat crops are reported to be 20 per cent, smaller than last year’s. The poor crop in the Balkans is mostly du e to extensive flooding and the hard winter. YUGOSLAV WHEAT SHORTAGE. BELGRADE, July 27. Yugoslavia has a wheat shortage. This is hindering trade talks between Yugoslavia and Germany. Germany insists that Yuogslavia should deliver th e remaining quota of 3500 truck loads of wheat, plus a further allotment of 20,000 truck loads of wheat and 10,000 loads of maize this year. The paper “Pol'itka” says: “Ths crop is so bad that we cannot deliver even part of thes e demands without endangering our own needs. We would be short of wheat in February and March unless we take drastic measures. It will be impossible also to export cattle fodder this year.'* SOVIET AND YUGOSLAVIA. (Received July 28, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 27. The “Daily Express’’ says: Russia

and Yugoslavia have moved a step nearer to a military pact, with the despatch of eight delegates by the Soviet to Belgrade. Professedly these delegates are to resume trade talks, but, under th e cover of these talks, Russia and Yugoslavia have been discussing a military alliance as a counter to the increasing Axis pressure in the Balkans. SOVIET COMPLAINT. AGAINST ROUMANIANS (Received July 28, 7.30 p.m.) MOSCOW, July 27. The Soviet radio has bitterly attacked Roumanians for atr/eities against refugees going to Bessarabia. It asserted: “Men, women, and children from Galatz were herded all day in the blazing sun, and then crowded in barges for three days, being beaten, derided, and repeatedly searched and robbed. They then were entrained for Prut, without food and water, and finally were thrust into a ditch surrounded with machine-guns. At any moment they expected to be massacred, but they were allowed to go to Russia. Two were detained and subsequently shot.” SOVIET NAVY MOSCOW, July 27. The Soviet Naval Commissar, M. Kuznetzoff, broadcasting, said the Soviet was adding 168 ships to its fleet in 1940. It had added 122 ships during 1939, including large surface vessels. The navy must be increased to a parity with the army and air force. MOSCOW, July 28. Kuznetzoff added that in addition to the 1940 commissionings, the new submarines will be three times the number of 1939. “We plan the biggest navy in the world,” he said. New ships are being laid down now for launching in the coming yeais. SOVIET TRADE WITH FINLAND. (Received July 27, 7 p.m.) HELSINKI, July 27. The radio announced that a trade agrement as between Russia and Finland had been signed yesterday, which provides for the setting up of a permanent Russian Trade Mission of ten men in Finland. Finnish shipbuilders are negotiating to build ships for th e Russians, while transport between Finland and the Soviet is being improved, and Finnish dairy produce is being sold to Russia.