THE BALKANS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 28 June 1943, Page 2

THE BALKANS

“ALARMING SITUATION” DISCONTENT RIFE AMONG AXIS SATELLITES RESISTANCE IN OCCUPIED COUNTRIES GROWING London, Juno 3*o Almost every European country is ripe to aligne itself with the Allies against the Axis, says the Turkish newspaper “Vakit,” quoted by a Soviet news agency. “Vakit” describes the situation in the Balkans as alarming. Another Turkish journal, “Yen! Sabah,” says discontent is rlfo among Axis satellites and resistance in occupied countries is growing. The initiative has passed into Allied hands. Reports reaching London stress grow* ing German anxiety over the possibilitj of an Allied move against Greece. Gen man engineers and Bulgarian wor ken after completing defences on the Greet coast are reported to have withdraws ten miles inside the coastline, when they have started building a second defence line. A third chain of concrete fortifications is being erected in Bul-garian-occupied Greece along the Maritsa river. The jittery attitude of Axis propagandists and inspiring Allied broadcasts have caused great excitement among the Greek population, who expect early liberation. “Nothing shows more clearly how the initiative lies with the Allies than the wild guesses in energy countries about forthcoming military moves,” comments “The Times” diplomatic correspondent. “Ger*man commentators and newspapers still devote much time and space to what they think the Allies are planning to do in the next spate. Such thoughts came from Germany all the weekend. Italian newspapers dwelt in great detail on an imminent Allied offensive against Italy, also other countries in south Europe.” We must expect the invasion of the Italian peninsula said Rome radio. The signs are concentration of large units of the British fleet supported by American ships, movement into the Mediterranean of many important Allied supply convoys, also continual bombing of Italy apparently with a view to assisting landings. Stockholm and Madrid sources each quote what they call official report* from Rome that the Italian fleet hai moved. The Madrid report says the Italians put to sea for offensive operations, while the Stockholm report states that the Italians merely sought the safety of Italy’s eastern ports. Naval observers in London believe the latter seems the more likely explanation in view of the bombing of Spezia.