SERBIAN REBELS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24696, 27 August 1941, Page 7

SERBIAN REBELS

AXIS POWERS DEFIED ATTACKS AGAINST TROOPS THREAT TO VITAL RAILWAY ' LONDON, Aug. 25. The defiance of the Serbian mountain irregulars, who are reported to hold the larger part of the wild, rocky fortresses of Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, constitutes a potential danger for the Axis Powers, whose hands are full with Russia, says The Times correspondent on the German frontier. Incessant attacks against German and Italian troops are reported. Croat attempts to restore order so far have been quite ineffectual. For this reason the Italian authorities, fearing the destruction of the railways, have been obliged to occupy the whole of the Dalmatian coast from Fiume to Dubrovnik, -and to extend the occupation a considerable distance inland. Their first consideration is the safety of the extremely important Fiume-Split railway. Serb rebels have already approached within 20 miles of this. The upheaval directly affects the position on the eastern front, because the Germans, besides depending on Balkan food supplies, are at present hurriedly mobilising and sending to Russia all available munitions and rolling stock. It is therefore of the utmost importance to the Germans to have no interruptions in railway transport throughout the Balkans. In addition general discontent has been prevalent since the Balkans were forced to participate in the campaign against Russia. All the age-long Balkan animosities have been aroused, notably between Hungary and Rumania. The danger of an inherent Croatian upheaval is that it may start a new conflagration in the Balkans.