BALKAN UNREST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1940, Page 6

BALKAN UNREST

FEARS OF NAZI INVASION OF HUNGARY GERMAN PANIC BUYING REPORTED. RUMOURS OF RUSSIAN MOVE AGAINST RUMANIA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. April 14. “The Observer's” Budapest -correspondent says that a German invasion of Hungary would surprise nobody. Nazi forces are reported to be in complete preparedness on the Hungarian-Slovak border. Three weeks’ persistent German dissemination of rumours has badly shaken the public morale in southern-eastern Europe. Grave disquiet is growing in Yugoslavia. where a renewed declaration of Italian neutrality ,is anxiously awaited, the correspondent adds. Bucharest reports that Germans in Bukowina arc- buying up foodstuffs, timber and cereals regardless of the prices. The Ruthenians have evacuated civilians and removed all catlie and foodstuffs their side of the frontier to a depth of six miles. Rumania is reported to have posted several hundred extra guards along the Danube. A message from Sofia says that documents of considerable importance are believed to have been stolen from the home of the Yugoslav military attache. The Rome correspondent of the “New York Times” says that Italian correspondents at Sofia and Bucharest

express anxiety there over a rumour- . ed Russian move against Rumania, j The Rome radio says that Germany ■ and Hungary have reached an agree- . ment for the protection of German transports on the Danube. Hungary is ; operating a large number of gunboats. The Black Sea round Varna (Bulgaria) has been mined. Russian tankers carrying oil to Germany pass I this area. The radio adds that an unnamed country was responsible for Iho mining. * The Belgrade correspondent of the "New York Times" says on the highest authority that Yugoslavia has request-

ed Germany to refrain at least temporarily from building up her Adriatic trade, pointing out it is likely to irritate the constantly stiffening British blockade thereabouts. The same authority believes it is possible that Italy has similarly requested Germany. At present nearly 30 German merchantmen are tied up at Trieste, while 7(5.000 tons of bauxite are piled up at Dubrovnik (Yugoslavia). Recently the German freight- i er Ankara completed the shipment of 4000 tons. ' A Budapest message says that ra- | tioning will be introduced for the first time tomorrow. Sugar and fats are particularly affected. The reason is J believed to be the unfavourable crops and Hungary's determination to maintain her international obligations especially those to Germany.