SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 11

SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

THE RUSSIAN DEVELOPMENT WELCOMED BY THE LITTLE NATIONS CHANGE TO BREAK NAZI ECONOMIC „ ‘ , NEW YORK, September, 20. (Received September 21, at 12.10 p.m.) The Budapest correspondent of the - Associated Press of America says the five little nations -in south-eastern Europe, although most of them are bitterly opposed to the Russian regime, hailed the news of Moscow’s renewal .of active participation in Balkan affairs as a ‘chance to .break Gemiany s economic stranglehold in south-east Europe—except Hungary and Rumania. Turkish reports indicated that not only will the. Foreign Minister, M. Saracoglu, have friendship talks during his impending visit to Moscow, but he will also -try to secure better RumanianRussian relations in order to offset Nazi influence in Bucharest, Belgrade Press reports stated that ..from’a ,viewpoint of balance of power the Russian development is not'without is advantages. It will have a “ counterbalancing effect.” Yugoslavia is seeking a non-aggression pact with Russia. Bulgaria is apparently taking seriously the intimations that Russia will restore to Bulgaria the Dobrudja, which was taken by Rumania in' the last war. Only Hungary and Rumania look askance at the newly-created borders "with Russia. RUSSIANS ENTER LEMBERG GOVERNOR COMMITS SUICIDE r MOSCOW, September 20. (Received September 21, at 10 a.m.) The Russians have, entered Lemberg, whose Governor (M. Bibiju) committed suicide last night. TOWN STILL RESISTING WARSAW, September 20. (Received September 21, at 11 a.m.) M. Lipinski, a Polish military commentator, broadcasting, announced that the German attacks were continuing at Lemberg, which, like Warsaw, was still resisting. MARSHAL SMIGLY-RYDZ INTERNMENT IN RUMANIA BUCHAREST, September 20. (Received September 21, at 10 a.m.) Marshal Smigly-Rydz has been interned for the remainder of the war on the insistence of the Nazis. [An earlier message from Poland emphasised that Marshal Smigly-llydz is still in command of the forces there.]

“OPERATIONS CLOSED" OFFICIAL GERMAN STATEMENT BERLIN, September 20. (Received September, 21, at 2 p.m.) An official statement announced that, with the defeat of the Poles on the Vistula front, the military operations in Poland are closed. PROBLEMS IN POLAND SOVIET-GERMAN CONSULTATIONS MOSCOW, September 20. (Received September 21, at 10 a.m.) Nazi army and air officials have arrived by air from Herr Hitler’s headquarters to consult regarding Russian and German problems in Poland. It is understood that France has asked for an explanation of Russia’s intervention in Poland. ESTONIA ALARMED GERMAN-SOVIET CONTROL OF NORTH BALTIC NEW YORK, September 20. (Received September 21, at 1 p.m.) The Helsingfors correspondent of the ‘ New York Times ’ states that it appears probable that the incident of tfie escape from Tallinn of the Polish submarine, which has attracted the in-, dignant attention of Germany and Russia, may be exploited for strengthening their naval control of the north Baltic on the pretext that the small States are failing in strict neutrality. Authoritative Russian circles have already charged Estonia with “ official nonchalance. Estonia fears that Russia will enforce her threat to subject neutral shipping in the Baltic to the strictest surveillance. Reports that several units of the Soviet navy have been seen off Tallinn have alarmed the Estonian Government. No vessel is permitted to leave Estonian ports. DESTROYERS STEAM WEST SOVIET TROOPS MOVE TOWARDS FINLAND HELSINGFORS, September 20. (Received September 21, at 2.30 p.m.) Finnish coastguards sighted four Soviet destroyers steaming westwards, thus increasing the uneasiness over the fate of Latvia and Estonia. Soviet troops are moving towards the Finnish frontier. RUSSIAN FLEET NOT BLOCKADING ESTONIA TALLINN, September 20. (Received September'2l, at 10 a.m.) Reports that Russia has blockaded the coast of Estonia are denounced as untrue. The Soviet fleet has gone to sea near Estonian waters, but has not interfered with Estonian trade.

DELIBERATE MASSACRE POLISH REFUGEES' APPALLING TALES MERCILESS AIR ATTACKS OH VILLAGE MARKETPLACE LONDON, September 20. (Received September 21, at 12.30 p.m.) The Bucharest correspondent of 1 The Times ’ says a procession of refugees 20 miles long is pouring through Cernauti. The Polish soldiers piled up every form of war material likely to be useful to the Germans. The refugees tell appalling tales of the bombing of open towns. Eye-witnesses of the Krzemieniec bombing state that the marketplace was clearly distinguishable. It was thronged with peasants and villages, who waved to planes bearing Polish marking, only to find that they were really German, whose pilots machine-gunned them mercilessly. The Poles believe that England and France have abandoned them. When the truth is told they ask despairingly: “Then why was Germany not bombed?” The saddest complaint is of a shipment of 100 of the most modern fighters and a large quantity of bombs, due to be despatched from London by a steamer arriving at Gdynia on August 25. When someone discovered that it would be £4,000 cheaper if they were sent by another route an argument and haggling followed, and as a result the shipment never left London, so that the Poles were without fighters to combat the German bombers, and this largely contributed to the Polish debacle. DR GAYDA'S OPTIMISM " MOMENT FOR PEACE AT HAND ” ROME, September 20. (Received September 21, at 10 a.m.) Dr Gayda expressed the opinion that the moment for peace was at hand. SWAM THE DNIESTER AUTHOR'S DRAMATIC ESCAPE CERNAUTI, September 20. (Received September 21. at 10.30 a.m.) The author. Richard Mowner. made a dramatic escape from Russian-occu-pied Poland. He was forced to swim the Dniester. Other journalists found him exhausted.

HITLER’S SPEECH ITALIAN OFFICIALS RESERVED THE PRESS 6H INTERVENTION OF WESTERN POWERS V LONDON, September 20. (Received September 21, at 2 p.m.) The Rome correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ states that Italian officials are strictly reserved regarding Hitler’s speech, but the Press unanimously VWUWVWWWUWJVJWA

emphasises that now that Poland is virtually \ftped out the reasons for the Western Powers’ intervention no longer exists The Press maintains that the idea of complete restoration of Poland is “ idiocy even beyond the capacity of the democracies.” The war, therefore, will be a vendetta against the Nazi regime and is doomed to failure. TURKEY'S HOPES ANGLO-FRENCH CONCILIATION WITH SOVIET ANKARA, September 20. (Received September 21, at 1 p.m.) The Turkish Foreign Minister, who is going to Moscow, stated that Turkey hopes to effect a reconciliation between England, France, and Russia. SANDBAGS FROM INDIA BIG DELIVERY IN JANUARY CALCUTTA. September 20. (Received September 21, at 10.30 a.m.) Britain has ordered 152,000,000 sandbags for delivery in January.