DETERRENT TO ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1939, Page 5

DETERRENT TO ACTION

GERMAN FEARS OF' SOVIET POSITION IN BALTIC & BALKANS BID FOR DOMINATION POSSIBLE DURING WINTER. DANGER OF DRIVING ITALY INTO ALLIES’ CAMP. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. NEW YORK, November 21. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Tinies” says diplomats believe that German uneasiness over the Soviet’s designs in the Baltic and the Balkans and fears Unit Russia, will take advantage of the German involvement in Ihe west to extend her influence over the Scandinavian countries are factors deterring the Nazis from a western drive. The original agreement between Russia and Germany did not include Finland in Russia’s zone of influence. Soviet troop concentrations on the former border of Czechoslovakia and Poland are unusually heavy and the Germans are worried over the possibility of a Russian attempt in the winter to dominate the Black Sea area. Military authorities believe that a drive to Bessarabia can best be accomplished when the rivers are frozen and the terrain is hard, facilitating infantry movements. Germany, it is believed, is further from agreeing with Russia about Balkan influence zones than at any time. The danger of driving Italy into the Allies’ camp is an increasingly complicating factor. Diplomats indicate that Russia and Germany are negbtiating with Japan independently. GERMANS PUZZLED MILITARY AND OTHER LEADERS AT ODDS. NAZI PARTY IN CONFLICT WITH ARMY CHIEFS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright NEW YORK, November 21. Telephoning from Amsterdam, the “Herald Tribune’s” correspondent, Mr Beach Conger, said that the lack of action on the Western Front is puzzling the Germans, who dare not ask questions. Before he left Germany he was told that the Commander-in-Chief, General von Brauchitsch, had offered his resignation, but Herr Hitler refused to accept it. “The army includes practical gentlemen who are considering all possible contingencies, but the party officials seem solid on the idea of pressing forward to the announced destruction of the British Empire,’ the correspondent states. “Apparently, it is only a question of time before the party or the army wins a dominant position.”