MORALE HIGH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 7

MORALE HIGH

GREECE;AND TURKEY PROPAGANDA BY AXIS VIGOROUS CHECK NEEDED NEW YORK, Nov. 1. How the Axis Powers, are using their customary propaganda weapons as" well as military ones in waging/ the. war against Greece is described in a despatch from Athens to the New York Times by G. R. Gedye. -. • . He says that .the Axis started a whispering campaign to lull Russia and Turkey into a false sense of security while simultaneously hinting at Fifth Column activities in Greece. ," The truth is," he adds, "that anti-Italian feeling is growing throughout Greece. ".'.'' . "The morale of Athens is at present excellent, but the greatest -importance is attached to vigorous British action by both Turkey and Greece, riot necessarily with the object of .gaining swift victories,, but to : check the Axis propaganda which hints that Britain did nothing for Polar*! and Norway, and will do nothing for-Greece and Turkey. " It is not believed in Athens or Istanbul that Germany will be able to push through to the Dardanelles before the spring. ' - - "'The objective of the main Italian attack; when it comes,, will be to divide' the Greek forces, in Mace-donii-and Thessally from those in Thrace, incidentally encouraging the Bulgarians to seize Dede Agach, succour the hard-pressed Dodecanese and separate Greece from Turkey. "If these objectives are not. attained. Italy will probably encourage the Bulgarians to continue a campaign in Thrace and content themselves with moving southward toward Corinth and Athens. "Italy's minimum objective appears to be bases on the north-west coast of Greece, in order to improve communications with Libya."