EUROPEAN SITUATION

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 161, 22 March 1939, Page 3

EUROPEAN SITUATION

ROUMANIAN PRECAUTIONS 350,000 TROOPS UNDER ARMS GERMAN MILITARY ACTION UNLIKELY LONDON, March 20, The Bucharest correspondent, of the British United Press says that 350.,003 Roumanians aie now under anus.-' Of these, 200,000 in Transylvania are ready to march, at a moment’s notice. Roumanian Air Force reservists have been called up. Army leave has been cancelled. Roumania could mobilise 2,000.000 men, although the equipinent for such an army is not at present available. A further message from Bucharest states that 200,000 Roumanian troops are mobilised „in blockhouses and dugouts along the Hungarian frontier,, awaiting Germany’s, next move. The EVening Standard says the belief is growing in London that German military action against Roumania is unlikely at present, because, firstly, of inadequate roads and railways in the Oarpatho-Ukraine area; secondly, because the Iron Guard is mow” impotent; and thirdly, because no efforts have been made to foment trouble among the German and Hungarian minorities in Roumania. Berlin official quarters state that the alleged German “economic ultimatum” to Roumania reported during the week-end is merely a “London manoeuvre to disturb the current trade talks between Germany and Itoumania,”

An Independent Cable Service message from Bucharest states that despite the tension and obscurity of Germany’s intentions, the Rouman-o-German Trade Pact is scheduled for signing on Tuesday. It- is- believed it extends to mutual exports and grants Germany the right to exploit the deep-lying oilfields, which so far have been untouched owing to lack, of capital. •