DRIVE ON EGYPT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24636, 18 June 1941, Page 5

DRIVE ON EGYPT

NAZIS' NEXT MOVE ACROSS SYRIA AND PERSIA TROOPS NEAR BLACK SEA NEW YORK, (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) June 17. The Daily News learns exclusively that German troops are poising for a drive across Persia and Syria to Egypt and are already moving to the Black Sea and Russian Georgia. This step signals the completion of a

Japanese-Russian-German deal, ? whereby the Reich bought an entrance to the £?ear East and Africa for a promise to construct a giant new system of railways in southern Russia. Details of a secret tripartite agreement, which gives Sweden to Germany and Finland and Manchukuo to Russia, were submitted to the State Department spokesman, who said it was in harmony with the department's own reports, and he authorised its publication.

PERSISTENT REPORTS RUSSIA MOBILISING LONDON, June 16. Reports of the heightening of Russian and German tension are still being received from all parts ■of Europe. They include one report from Ankara that Russia has declared general mobilisation and has cancelled army leave. Another from Stockholm states that German shipping has been recalled from the Baltic, and that the Soviet Baltic fleet is " in a state of alarm." Germany is demanding from Russia full control of the Ukraine and the passage of German troops across Caucasia from where they can dominate the Russian oilfields and refineries and menace Iraq and Iran, says the diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The Germans are not interested in securing a negotiated settlement, preferring to impose their will, thus employing an idle army which would seek to knock out Russia before the British-United States strength becomes truly formidable. The German pressure on Turkey has greatly increased. Hitler wishes "to take Turkey cold," and is mixing threats and cajolery.