TENSION IN BALKANS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 120, 19 April 1940, Page 7

TENSION IN BALKANS

MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST NAZIS. LONDON, April 18. Special measures to prevent a repetition of the Norwegian betrayals from within have been adopted in the Low Countries, Sweden, Jugoslavia, Rumania, Turkey and Switzerland. Several Dutch Nazi leaders are reported to have been arrested. It is confirmed that the Germans are massing numerous divisions on the Yugoslavian and Hungarian frontiers. Neither France nor Britain is militarily committed to Yugoslavia, but the Allies’ treaty with Turkey covered the possibility of aggression toward Yugoslavia with a clause regarding any aggression which would threaten the security of the signatories. There are reports of Rumanian and Russian troop movements to the Bessarabian frontier and of activity by the Russian and Turkish fleets. More Rumanian regiments are reported to have entrained for Bessarabia. ITALIAN ACTIVITY. Italy has declared Bari, its naval base on the Adriatic, a prohibited area. The news is not published in the Italian Press The reason given is that gunnery practice is being earned out. it was from Bari that the Italians sailed a year ago to invade Albania. A decree issued m Rome empowers the calling up of four classes previously rejected, hut re-examined and pronounced fit for service. Hie Italian action in declaring Bari a prohibited area lias started more speculation and rumours in the Balkans. There are also further reports of Italian fleet 'manoeuvres in the Mediterranean. Italian official circles are silent. The Italian manoeuvres are being watched with the closest interest in Turkey, where the Press is emphasising the need for vigilance. The Yugoslavian Government is revising the residential permits of all foreigners living in Belgrade. Thousands of undesirable aliens will be leaving the country in the next 10 days. The measure is interpreted as a move to check recent Nazi propaganda and espionage, including the distribution of anti-Allied leaflets. A house-to-house search was made in several towns close to the German border. In Belgrade There are severe measures against foreigners who spread false news. Half a million Germans are at pre-' sent residing in Yugoslavia. 700.000 in Rumania, and 500,000 in Hungary. Nearly all are organised into Nazi societies. A move to improve relations between Yugoslavia and Russia is to take the form of a commercial mission to Moscow to negotiate a new trade agreement. The announcement has caused surprise in Belgrade. It is believed that the two countries are paving the'way for a resumption of diplomatic relations after a breach lasting 23 years. „ RUMANIAN DECREE. Rumania has issued a decree ordering the registration of males living in military zones. An abnormal influx of Germans is reported to be responsible for the decree. Suspects have been evacuated from the seaports. The i Lower Chamber has passed a Bill providing for extraordinary measures to control the ports. It is now before the Senate, the passage of the Bill will probably prevent Germany from obtaining the seven free ports agreed upon in March last year. The British United Press Bucharest correspondent reports that, despite the announcement that the Senate had provisionally agreed to lease forests to Germany, a commission has been appointed to make further investigations. Military experts pointed out that the forests lie in the eastern stretch of the Carpathian mountains between the oilfields and the Russian frontier, which is a possible path for the invasion of Rumania. FLEET MOVEMENTS. The Russian Black Sea fleet is reported to have laid mines off Odessa and Batum. The Turkish fleet is reported to be steaming through the Sea of Marmora, near Gallipoli. A Balkan radio station claimed that part of the Turkish fleet has sailed for the Aegean Sea, but it is not supported in any other quarter. The Turkish Government lias decided to expel a large number of foreign undesirables, and the authorities are investigating the activities of increasing batches of Central Europeans disguised as merchants, cabaret performers. etc. It is reported from Ankara that _ a French military mission from Syria has arrived at Ankara for talks with the Turkish General Staff.