BALKANS CAULDRON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 219, 16 September 1943, Page 5

BALKANS CAULDRON

MAY SOON BE BOILING INCREASING TENSION (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Reed. 11/ p.hi. London, Sept. 15. Reports of fighting and political shifts filtering from the Balkans reveal that the Axis nations are facing a situation of tonfusion and increasing tension. Berlin radio charged “Communist bandits ai.d British agents” with attempting to frustrate Germany's protection of the Balkans, and added that there were attempts by the Communist population in some Dalmatian towns to organise street fighting. Allied sources report that Yugoslavs, aided by Italian troops, are bitterly resisting German columns driving from the interior to take over control of the Dalmatian coast. The Italians hold vast regions of th-o coast. Th 6 Italians and Yugoslavs are reported to hold Dubrovnik and the railway junctions of Karkovac, 30 miles south-west of Zagreb, and Ogulin, 38 miles west of Fiume, ana also the Via, Hvar and Brae Islands. The G-eiman news agency admitted losses when a troop train was blown up m Yugoslavia, after which furious fighting developed along the railway line. The agency reported that Himmler was demanding the arrest of the German General Alexander von Loehr, former Commander-in-Chief in the Balkans, because he set a bad example to other commanders in occupied countries by constantly demanding reinforcements. It also reported that a German tank army commander at the head of paratroop: arrested General Rossi, Italian Com-mander-in-Chief in the Balkans. German sources, quoting Prince Cyril, one of the R/egents of Bulgaria, say the now Bulgarian Government will follow King Boris’ policy. However, The Times points out "that the Conservative pro-Allied elements are participating in the Government. Turkish reports from Sofia say that Prince Cyril informed Germany that Bulgarian forces would oppose a British-American landing in southeastern Europe but would not resist if the Russians reached Bulgaria. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that Antonescu is facing the growing threat of revolt in Rumania as a result of the Russian advance and Germany’s demands for troops for the reinforcement ot Balkans garrisons. Rumanian leaders profess loyalty to Hitler, but -want to concentrate troops on the home front. It is believed the Government is losing control.