BLACK SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23615, 27 March 1940, Page 9

BLACK SEA

BOLSHEVIK REGIME POSSIBILITY OF A MOVE ALLIES AND THE TURKS LONDON, March 10 It remains to be seen whether the Allies and Turkey will take the initiative in the Black Sea to break the Bolshevik regime in Russia and block a potential source of petroleum and raw materials for the Reich, says the Beirut (Syria) correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, in a review of the Black Sea situa- j tion. While Italy condemns its hitter enemy, Bolshevism, the Allies cannot forget that Italy has special relations with Germany. Italy's connection with Germany is, in a sense, beneficial to the Russians, for the Allies are not likely to strike at Russia through the Caucasus, where she is most, vulnerable, unless they are certain that Italy will not fight on Germany's side. Risk of Losing Oilfields Should Russia attack Bessarabia—the province she lost to Bumania —it is almost certain that Turkey, automatically backed by the Allies with their accumulated armies in the Near Fast and Mediterranean fleets, will Russia. The Daily Telegraph correspondent continues: —"II war develops in the Caucasus, both Turkey arid Iran, hesides the Russians, will risk losing their all-important oilfields. "The Trans-Caucasia Russian fields yield about five-sixths of the Soviet's total production. Even if no Turkish and Allied troops set foot in TransCaucasia, long-distance modern bombers could seriously disrupt the production and distribution of Caucasus petroleum. "It is not for nothing that the Turks maintain first-rate American bombers in Eastern Turkey. Army of the East Is Ready "It is not likely that the Red Army, which boasts of possessing thousands of aeroplanes, tanks and trucks, all oilronsuming, will undertake any adventure in the south until Russia considerably increases her oil production in Turkestan and the Urals. "Germany would gain by an unhindered flow of petroleum from the Caucasus to the Reich, with no Allied bombers interfering and no Allied .fleets in the Black Sea. "Nevertheless, anything might happen. That is where the French army in the East and the British .forces in the Near East come in, whether to block a German-Russian drive in the Balkans or assist the Turks against Russia. Meanwhile, the Army of the East is concentrated here, ready for action anywhere, as soon as it is told to go ahead." TURKEY ARMING SHIPS By Telcpraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 26. 5.35 p.m.) ISTANBUL. March 25 It has been decreed that all Turkish merchantmen must be armed before leaving home ports.