BLACK SEA ISSUE

Grey River Argus, 16 September 1941, Page 5

BLACK SEA ISSUE

WAR ON BULGARIA ? Soviet’s Next Move ? (Rec. 12.30) LONDON, Sept. 15. The belief Is held here that Russia soon will declare war on Bulgaria. This would enable the Soviet to attack Bulgaria's Black Sea ports. The object of such attacks would be to disperse Axis naval forces which are assembling at these ports, with the apparent aim of moving against Odessa, the Crimea or the Russian Caucasus. Turkish Paper SID'S AGAINST BULGARIA USE OF S TRAITS" LIKELY (Rec. 1.35) ISTANBUL, Sept. 15. Following a report that Bulgaria had intended to buv warships from Italy ano sail them through the Dardanelles to her Biack sea ports, the newspaper “Ikdam” here, declaring that Bulgaria is a belligerent nation on account of Greece making a declaration of war against her, says: “Such warships would not be allowed to pass the straits.” The ‘ Ikdam s article furthermore suggests that M. Molotovs note to Bulgaria, detailing breaches of neutrality, was a warning that the Soviet would declare war if of.garm sought the aid of the Axis by buying warships from Italy. It adds: “Therefore, whichever way the problem is viewed, it is impossible that the.i-i warships should pass the straits.”

BULGARIA MOBILISES Attack On Crimea NEXT GERMAN OBJECTIVE? SOFIA, Sept.. 14. The Bulgarian Cabinet has decided that conditions warrant the application of Article 33 of the Law for Civil Mobilisation, and Article 23 of the Law “for National Defence, providing for the enforcement of certain measures in time of war. The 1921 class will be called up The German-controlled Serbian Government has received permission to form an army of 17.000, plus appropriate numbers of gendarmes and military police. A Sofia report states that, in ad dition to the 1921 class of reservists, the Bulgarian' Government is calling up the 1922 and 1925 classes, excepting students. The Bulgarian Minister of Justice has issued a decree aiming at the repression cf al subversive activity. It provides the death penalty for sabotage and espionage, and also for serious profiteering offences. Commenting on the Russian protest to Bulgaria concerning the use of Bulgarian soil as a base foi German and Italian operations against Russia, “The Times’ 1 says it is a reminder of the unhappy and anomalous situation in which the Bulgarian people, with their long-standing and traditional friendship with Russia, have been placed by their misguided rulers. While the Roumanians, Hungarians and even Slovaks have been mobilised as reluctant and ineffective allies of Germany in the Russian campaign. Hitler’s tools in Sofia have not dared to force on the stubborn Bulgarian people a roie so alien to their sympathies and inclinations. Up to the present they have been contrived to maintain formal diplomatic relations with Moscow, but the long list of hostile acts enumerated in the Russian protest and performed by the armed forces of the Axis on Bulgarian territory with the connivance of the Bulgarian Government reveal the unreality of the situation. ’ “No doubt can be felt that the complicity of the present Bulgarian Ministers is voluntary and deliberate. Bulgaria will be compelled bv the Russian note to take her stand for or against the aggressor and the Bulgarian people will be enabled to judge whither the policy of their rulers is leading them. Bulgaria, however, is a country divided against itself. The reply to Moscow will doubtless be dictated from Berlin.”

BULGARIAN PORTS.

/S GERMAN BASES.

(Rec. 1.37). LONDON. Sept. 15. The Berlin paper, “Voekischer Beobachter,” yesterday published a front page picture entitled: “Admiral Raeder visiting Naval bases in the southeast.” He is shown talking to Bulgarian officers ' LONDON, Sept. 14.

The reported presence recently in Sofia of Admiral Raeder and General von Brauchitsch is taken by London commentators to indicate some German move to attack the Crimea, or another point on the Soviet Black Sea coast, by German naval landings. The Soviet naval strength in the Black Sea, however, is believed to be considerable, and any such expedition would be faced with grave dangers.