The Waikato Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1940. BALKANS IN TUMULT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21243, 14 October 1940, Page 6

The Waikato Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1940. BALKANS IN TUMULT

What passed between Hitler and Mussolini at their Brenner Pass conference may be explained to some extent by events now occurring in the Balkans and in the Far East. Despite German and Rumanian denials, the German incursion into Rumania seems to be assuming the proportions of a full-scale invasion. If the Rumanians do not welcome it, they are at least doing nothing to discourage it. The question has naturally arisen whether Britain can continue relations with a State which has probably already passed into the same category as other German-occupied countries. The whole Balkan position has apparently been thrown into the melting pot. All the States in that area are feeling the strain and are preparing themselves for the worst. Tt may be asked whether for the time being Germany has abandoned the intention to invade Britain and instead push eastward for fresh conquests. Whatever is in Hitler’s mind, Britain is not likely to relax its vigilance or to pause in its preparations not only to meet any possible invasion but eventually to take the offensive. Informed opinion suggests that Germany, while attempting to maintain the pressure on Britain from the air, will make the best of its opportunities on land, in the hope that the constant hammering will cause Britain to collapse. But that plan depends upon Germany maintaining supremacy in the air—a condition that is gradually slipping from Hitler's grasp. Internally Germany is becoming increasingly fearful of the Royal Air Force and is hastening to strengthen its air-raid precautions and send its people underground. Loss of the initiative in the air will be a heavy blow to the Nazis. Germany’s collaboration with Japan in the hope of stopping the supply of war material from the United States to Britain has apparently fallen flat. Britain’s chief need from America is aeroplanes, and there is no apparent reason why machines should not cross the Atlantic in an ever-increasing stream. The new threat that has come to the United States calls mostly upon the navy as a defensive or offensive weapon. Aeroplanes, excepting those required by the navy, will have limited use in the American scheme of defence, and a large proportion of machines that can be produced can be employed more effectively by Britain. Already the United States is producing 1000 aeroplanes a month, and the output is increasing rapidly. The German eastward move has again focussed attention on Russia, whose attitude may have a profound effect upon Turkey's policy. The announcement that Russia had suddenly imposed a blackout at Baku and manned anti-aircraft defences is extremely interesting. Baku is the centre of the Caucasus oilfields. Precisely what this move means, Russia could explain. Most probably it does not mean much more than that Russia is anxious concerning the developments of the situation in the Balkans generally. The oil industry in the Caucasus and the oil pipe line from Baku to Batum, on the Black Sea coast, are certainly vulnerable points which Russia must guard carefully. Does Russia expect the menace to come from Germany?