SOVIET’S POSITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24424, 9 October 1940, Page 7

SOVIET’S POSITION

OUIMAN(EUVRED BY NAZIS INFLUENCE WEAKENED REACTIONS AWAITED LONDON. Oct. 7. (Received Oct. 8, at 11.45 p’m.) The /Times says: “ Germany secured Rumanian oil by means of intimidation and the establishment of •n Administration obedient to her will, whereas capture of the oilfields by military force would have been difficult without Russian cooperation. Since the outbreak of war Rumania’s considerable and increasing use of, her .own, production had. been an important factoi in limiting the export of oil to Germany. but this consideration is being eliminated because it can be assumed that Germany intends to exploit the oil wells as completely as she is exploiting the resources of countries conquered by war Russia’s reactions will be watched with interest. Except at the outset, when she scored certain points, Russia has been outmanoeuvred by Germany in this war. The Soviet is no longer in as good a position to assert her influence as during the Battle of France, and, the despatch of German troops by train across Hungary establishes Hungary as being completely under German domination and having abandoned all nretence «t neutrality "

“ Instructional Troops ’

It IS officially stated from Bucharest' that regular German troops have not . yet arrived in Rumania and the despatch of German instructional troops is the normal result of Germany's guarantee to Rumania under the Vienna award The German division., which is garrisoning chiefly the'oil zone, will split up for training eight Rumanian divisions Italian detachments are expected shortly, since Italy shares the responsibility of Rumania’s new frontiers Italy may be ohieflv responsible for aviation The Rumanian Army naturally wishes real cofiaboratiohwith the armies of the Axis and Germany particularly has promised to overhaul the army, for which Rumania will receive effective support from German industry r Axis Assuming Control The German and Rumanian Governments are busy attempting to give harmless significance to the German troop .movements, which more detached -critics beljeve amount to direct Axis assumption of, control in Eumariia.V.'"-.■ ■■ The Bucharest correspondent- of the Associated Press declares that there is widespread evidence of all branches of a German military and naval establishment, in addition to German industry, operating in order to buttress Rumanian defences. German assistance at present is being sent, although official Rumanian and German quarters deny that large numbers of German troops, tanks and guns have already arrived. Rumanian Government officials refused to confirm or deny reports that Germany is planning to assist in building a large naval and air force base near Mamaia (?), the construction of'a wide highway across Rumania, and the enlargement of the submarine factory base at Galatz.

• The German Spokesman hinted that the German general at present in Rumania was possibly General Josef von Tippelskirch, head of the German military intelligence.