WIDESPREAD ANXIETY IN BALKANS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21784, 14 October 1940, Page 7

WIDESPREAD ANXIETY IN BALKANS

Determination To Resist

Axis Drive

Turkey Issues Stern Warning

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 13, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. THE CAIRO correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that it is believed that conversations aimed at stemming Germany’s drive eastward are proceeding between Britain, Turkey, Russia, Bulgaria and Greece.

The Ankara radio declared that if Germany’s moves in Rumania foreshadowed an advance on the Balkans and across Syria to Egypt, “this road is guarded by 2,000,000 bayonets. It seems that the Balkans, even Russia, are on the brink of war. Let us await developments. A German attack would create many political complications and meet the strongest resistance.”

The arrival of German military and air force missions in Bucharest has accentuated the widespread anxiety about German intentions in the Balkans. The Sunday papers give prominence to speculation on the meaning of the German penetration. The “Observer” predicts the withdrawal of Sir Reginald Hoare and members of the Embassy staff any moment, and suggests that the Turkish determination to resist the Axis drive is the second recent blow to Axis calculations, the first being Spain’s refusal to be bullied. The Axis plan gambles on tacit surrender in advance by Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Egypt, also by America and Russia in the background.

Speculation which has been current since the Brenner meeting of the Axis plans for expansion through southeast Europe into the Middle East led the journal "Economist” to examine the possibilities facing the Nazi strategist. It does not dismiss as unlikely to be cherished in Berlin the most grandiose schemes culminating in the overthrow of Turkey and the conquest of Palestine, but it comments:—“There are solid reasons for doubting whether performance can be as sweeping as the plan. Just as a precondition to the easy Invasion of Britain was the destruction of the Air Force, the clearing of the British Fleet from the eastern Mediterranean is an essential preliminary which has not been accomplished.” The "Economist” says that the fidelity of the Turks to the British alliance has been a light in a dark world of cowardice, desertion and treachery and adds that, backed ny Britain's naval power, they are capable, if it came to it, of transforming the primitive country of Anatolia into a guerrilla’s paradise. Commenting on the Rumanian situation, the Turkish radio station at Ankara declared that Britain had won the defensive'war and that German and Italian policy was now being shaped in an effort to get :' a knockout blow before Britain became too strong. It was pointed out that, even if Germany and Italy succeeded in overrunning Greece, there would still be a sea between them and the Near East. The British Navy still had command of the Red Sea, and so long as that position remained the hostile Axis armies would still be onlookers. Sir Samuel Hoare, British Ambassador in Madrid, has gone to Gibraltar for the week-end on a personal visit to the Governor.

A message from Bucharest states that open lorries laden with German soldiers carrying bayoneted rifles rumbled through the streets' at noon headed by cars filled with officers and flying regimental standards. Many of those watching removed their hats. Some hotels unfurled the Swastika. German penetration of the country is regarded as a fact now and is expected to reveal Itself fully. It is understood that British naval and military officers and staffs, also commercial staffs, are leaving immediately. The British Legation Is urgently advising British residents to depart. They are understood to have stressed that most roads from to-day will be controlled by military elements. This is believed to refer to the Germans.

It is officially stated at Bucharest that a German air mission arrived this afternoon a few hours after the military mission. The Bucharest correspondent of the British United Press reports that over 100 German planes bearing Rumanian colours are now flying over the city. Most are proceeding in a southerly direction.

It is learned from the Foreign Office in Budapest that large contingents of German troops, at the German request, will cross Hungary to Rumania, commencing to-day, being transported partly by road and train and others down the Danube.

A Rumanian communique states that a former Rumanian Government asked Germany to help in instruction of the Rumanian army in new methods of warfare. General Antonescu adopted the idea and Germany decided to send a military mission, of which the first group, under the command of General Spediel and General Hansen, arrived at Bucharest to-day. The population of Transylvania enthusiastically greeted the glorious representatives of Germany. The British Legation at Bucharest is helping to evacuate all British subjects who wish to leave. It is stated that Sir Reginald Hoare is consistently pressing Rumania for information and explanations. The German press in Transylvania for the first time openly announced German troops have arrived in Rumania, guarding the oil region and other key points In order to prevent foreign sabotage. The number of German troops in Rumania is uncertain but is believed to be about 20,000. The Germans have demanded The Hague authorities to nominate a Dutchman as general-manager of Astra Romana, Rumania’s biggest oil company, a majority of the shares of which are held by the Royal Dutch Shell Group, whose headquarters have been moved to Curacao. The British have strongly protested against this. Greece Hastens Defence Measures Greece continues to hasten her defence preparations. The visit of Greek army officers to Berlin has been cancelled. Excitement Is rising in Syria and Lebanon where the authorities, under Italian pressure, are clamping on more and more restrictions on speech and the newspapers in an attempt to get a grip of the situation. Frontier supervision has been reix>-

A late message from Bucharest states that Iron Guards from a neighbouring house fired hundreds of revolver shots into a garden villa rented by the British Air Attache, Lord Forbes, and the Legation secretary, Mr John L. Reed. Bullets showered the walls and shattered windows, but nobody was hurt. The authorities refused to intervene, explaining that the Iron Guards were firing on “suspects in the garden.”

forced. The Italians are easing on material and military demands and concentrating on propaganda. Political experts are replacing military commissioners for the purpose of building up a more favourable atmosphere. Syrians abroad, particularly in South America sent a message to Syrian leaders promising moral and material aid for resistance against the Italians. The Hungarian and Rumanian negotiations concerning the implementation of the Vienna award have been broken off. Both countries have appealed to Italy and Germany to arbitrate, each blaming the other with not carrying out promises and persecuting minorities.

“The Daily Mail” states that the Government has blocked all Rumanian assets in Britain, thus preventing the Rumanian Government withdrawing any of its funds from London for the benefit of Germany. “‘The Times” states that the Axis intends to make Rumania a base for further military operations. Germany is attempting an armed drive to the Dardanelles as the first stage of an advance towards the Near and Middle East.

A German spokesman did not hide these plans, but loudly proclaimed Nazi hopes that the German forces would soon control Bulgaria, after which, apparently, they would be content to explore the possibilities of securing acquiescence by bribes and threats. A further advance is dependent directly on Turkey and indirectly on Russia. Turkey is loyal to Britain and knows that the British strength, already formidable, is growing in Egypt and Palestine.

The Germans, no doubt, are offering Russia spheres of influence in exchange for a relaxation in the traditional Russian policy regarding the safety of the Dardanelles.

Meanwhile the Moscow radio has announced, without explanation, that the great oilfield at Baku has been completely blacked out and the antiaircraft guns manned. Germany now freely admits the dispatch of Army units and fighter squadrons to Rumania. A message from Bucharest states that 150 aeroplanes with German and Rumanian markings flew over the city late this afternoon. A German general and his staff have arrived at the Danubian port of Galatz. It is reported from Belgrade that four German submarines sent down the Danube in sections and assembled at Galatz are now operating in the Black Sea. The Rumanian dictator (General Antonescu) has informed the British Minister in Bucharest (Sir Reginald Hoare) that there are no German troops in Rumania, but that 3000 are expected. In reply Sir Reginald made It clear to General Antonescu that relations between Britain and Rumania were approaching a crisis. The “Daily Telegraph” states that an Axis advance from Albania and Rumania against Greece is imminent. According to information reaching London, Greece has been earmarked as the next Axis victim as a preliminary to larger operations in the Mediterranean and the monopolisation of the petrol resources in the Middle East. The main force of the drive against Greece will be 250,000 Italian troops massed on the Albanian frontier, a German corps simultaneously descending from Rumania. The Axis does not intend a direct attack against Yugoslavia, because the Yugoslavs can be immobilised and hemmed in by a successful operation against Greece, which will also provide air and naval bases for countering British attacks on Marshal Graziani’s lines of communication. It is authoritatively stated in London that material for two motorised and one armoured divisions is shortly going to Rumania from Germany, and that there are good grounds for believing that considerable numbers of German troops are arriving forthwith. A formation of 150 German and Rumanian aeroplanes flying over Bucharest, Ploesti and Giurgi swooped low over the British Legation.