IN THE BALKANS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21336, 5 February 1941, Page 4

IN THE BALKANS

NAZIS IN RUMANIA OPINION IN TURKEY ATTACK ON SALONIKA? (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 4 Military experts in the European capitals and in London are trying to probe the mystery surrounding the presence of almost 200,000 German troops in Rumania and the arrival of more every day. At present they are not inclined to brush aside the view held in Turkish political circles that the first German objective will be an attack on Salonika. The Istanbul correspondent of the Times says: “Upon one point Turkish opinion is certain—it is that Germany will not invade the Balkans to assist Italy in Albania. The Italian attack on Greece was outside the scope of the German war plans, and therefore does not interest Germany.” The correspondent points out, however, that the defeat of Britain in the Mediterranean, on the other hand, is within the scope of the German war plans and, therefore, German aircraft have been sent to Italy. He says that the Germans will invade the Balkans only if such an invasion should be part of the war plans which the German general staff drew up years ago, and which have already involved the invasion of Denmark, Norway, Belgium and Holland, in spite of the neutrality of those countries. “Turkish opinion assumes,” he says, “ that the obective of a German invasion of the Balkans would be, in the first place, Salonika. The German purpose in this would be to prevent the British from opening up a second front there “ The German objective in the second phase of the invasion would be to reach the Straits, with the idea of ensuring against possible Soviet intervention in a war on the side of Britain. Probably a preliminary measure would be the German occupation of Bulgaria, for which the Germans appear to have made preparations. “ It is pointed out that the reaffirmation that Rumania will march, without hesitation, on the side of the ‘ Great Fuehrer and the Duce ’ has already been made by the Rumanian Chief of State, General Antonescu, in his statement on the new Cabinet.”