RUSSIAN DENIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 93, 16 October 1940, Page 9

RUSSIAN DENIAL

NOT ADVISED BY NAZIS

SENDING OF TROOPS TO RUMANIA

LONDON, October 15

The official Russian news agency this afternoon denied a report that the Russian Government had been informed in advance of the < Ispatch of German troops to Rumania.

The Russian Statement says that the Danish newspaper "Politiken" published a report from its Berlin correspondent saying that the Soviet was informed in advance that German troops were to be sent to Rumania and that the Kremlin was informed of the objects and numbers of the German forces. The official Russian agency is authorised to state that the report does not correspond with the facts.

That statement is ' the only official utterance which has come from Moscow about the German penetration of Rumania. The Soviet organs of publicity have otherwise refrained from comment.

The "Politiken" report which Moscow now denies is apparently based on an official announcement from Berlin on Saturday, which said that all friendly and interested Governments had been informed of the German moves in Rumania.

Today's statements from Rumania show no vital changes in the situation there. Apparently German troops continue to arrive, and there are a good many stories which it is impossible to confirm in London. One of the stories is that three oil wells have been destroyed by fire. Reports about these fires have been conflicting, and the latest is an official Rumanian communique saying that the .damage is estimated at about £5000. This is in line with previous Rumanian statements that the fires were quickly put out, though other Press reports say that they burnt merrily for three hours.

Official circles in London are inclined to treat all reports from Bucharest with considerable reserve. With the Germans steadily increasing their control in the country, the task of journalists must be extremely difficult. No decision has been taken about the departure of the British Minister in Rumania and the British Legation from Bucharest and the matter is apparently being left to Sir Reginald Hoare's discretion.

Among the stories circulating are that Russian troops have entered Rumania and that the Turkish Ambassador in Bucharest has given certain information on the situation about Turkey's attitude to the Russian and American representatives. Another unconfirmed report is that Turkish subjects in Rumania have been advised to get their affairs in order and be ready for departure by the end of this month. Other unconfirmed reports are that the Germans in Rumania have told the Iron Guard that Rumania is eventually to be the base for an advance into Russia, but not yet, and that 15,000 Germans disguised as tourists have already reached Bulgaria and are ready to fly aircraft and operate tanks which Germany is alleged to have delivered in large numbers. The Russian wireless, however, today quotes the official Tass agency as denying that negotiations are going on between Britain, Russia, Turkey, Yugoslavia, and Greece.