Neutral Fears Rising

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21575, 10 February 1940, Page 9

Neutral Fears Rising

Preparation in South-Eastern Europe

Egypt Stages Big Parade

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received February 9, 6.30 p.m.) ISTANBUL, February 9. TURKISH MARINES occupied the German-owned Krupp shipyards on the Golden Horn. The Turkish Government has announced the dismissal of the German naval engineers and technicians who were equipping Turkish submarines in these yards. Numerous German residents, particularly business men, have left Istanbul in recent days.

The Istanbul correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the seizure of the Krupp shipyards coincides with the rising fears that SouthEastern Europe will be involved in war in the spring, and also with General Weygand’s review of large numbers of British and Indian troops in Egypt. Those dismissed total 20. Marines denied them entry.

The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press says that those in authority minimise the seizure, declaring that such things happen in Turkey and can usually be resolved.

A message from Budapest states that South-Eastern neutrals are placing their armies on a war footing. Rumania is augmenting the 1,000,000 at present under arms and expediting her defences, even if this will reduce her ability to supply products to Germany. Troops are requisitioning scrap iron for armaments. Hungary has made scrap iron a State monopoly. Yugoslavia is reported to be preparing an army of 500,000 under Prince Paul. Turkey maintains 200,000 men on the Russian border in spite of the demand for manpower in the devastated area.

According to a message from Cairo, the strength of Anglo-Egyptian defence was demonstrated when a huge parade was held at Heliopolis desert in the

The Istanbul correspondent of the Associated Press says that informed Turkish circles declared that Turkey would reject Germany’s expected protest against the seizure of the shipyards. It is admitted that this would herald “a serious deterioration” in Turkish and German relations.

presence of King Farouk on the occasion of the visit of General Weygand. French Commander-in-Chief in the Near East, Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Wavell, British Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East, and Lieutenant-General Henry Wilson. Commander-in-Chief in Egypt. The troops were mainly mechanised. General Weygand inspected British Indian and Egyptian mechanised units and expressed keen satisfaction at the parade of the troops of the three nationalities.

Egyptian newspapers are enthusiastic over his visit and emphasise Egypt’s whole-hearted support of the Allied cause. It is authoritatively stated in Paris that General Weygand’s command in the Near East numbers 275,000.