REPORTS CONFLICT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1941, Page 6

REPORTS CONFLICT

THE RUSSO=GERM.AN POSITION MOSCOW RADIO CENSURES TURKEY. FOR SIGNING PACT WITH NAZIS. (By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright i (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, .Tune 19. A report that fighting had broken cut between Russian and Rumanian frontier guards at Kamenetspodolak was broadcast by the Tiflis radio, but no confirmation of this has been received in London. An official spokesman in Berlin flatly denied foreign reports that Germany had begun to invade Russia, or that clashes had occurred on the Ger-man-Soviet border, while from Moscow a British United Press correspondent reports that there is no sign of uneasiness there, or of any general or partial mobilisation. The Moscow radio, which has hitherto been silent about reports of German-Russian tension, is now apparently preparing the population for big developments. It declared that frontier' reports indicated that incidents may have occurred on the Bessarabian border, caused by traitors' intrigues. The radio also spoke of the Socialist Fatherland's dire danger, due to plots between the Soviet’s cunning neighbours. Without being directly named, Turkey was attacked for her change of front in signing a so-called friendship treaty, thus completely subjecting the Balkans to interests inimical to the doctrines of socialism and taking responsibility for further spreading the war. The announcer referred to the Soviet’s preparations, especially in the Baltic, where the might of the Red Fleet was ready for any emergency.

Barrage balloons have been put up in certain military districts in Western Russia as an important part of military exercises. In Tokio reports of Russian-German friction have alarmed the authorities sufficiently to cause them to ban for some time any newspaper reference to it. Evon when the ban was lifted, only scant mention was made.

A United Press report strongly suggested that if Russian-German friction seriously developed. Japan would favour Russia rather than Germany.