THREATFROM EAST

Southland Times, Issue 24686, 6 March 1942, Page 5

THREATFROM EAST

TURKISH FEARS DANGER SEEN IN AXIS MOVES (Rec. 7.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 4. A New York Times correspondent says that Turkish public opinion, despite German preparations, does not expect that a crisis against Turkey is imminent because the Nazis are tied up in Russia and Egypt and are unable to open a new front now. But Turkey is seriously concerned by the eventual Japanese menace from the east. The Japanese military attache at Ankara has openly predicted that the Japanese would occupy Calcutta by mid-April. It is felt that the Axis could force Turkey into a precarious position if a successful spring offensive against Russia should result in‘the occupation of the Caucasus, thereby outflanking Turkey from the north and west, while the Japanese were menacing from India. Indications from all quarters of Eastern Europe prove gigantic German preparations for a desperate spring move. Five Bulgarian divisions have been sent to Yugoslavia to relieve German forces for service in Russia. Entire rail traffic has been suspended for vast military movements. Troops have been mobilized in Hungary, Slovakia and Rumania to reinforce the Axis armies in Russia. Increasing German pressure in Madrid has resulted in the dispatch of new Spanish air force support for the battered Germans. Axis barges are clustering in Black Sea ports for the invasion of Russian shores. Germany is exerting inhuman pressure against the occupied countries with the object of increasing war production. For example, forced labour is decreed for the entire population of Bessarabia between the ages of 12 and 70.