ALARM IN BALKANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1940, Page 5

ALARM IN BALKANS

ATTITUDE OF HUNGARY & BULGARIA ‘ TURKISH FLEET MOVING INTO BLACK SEA. GERMAN & ITALY STANDING ASIDE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, June 28. The situation following on the acceptance by Rumania of a Soviet ultimatum demanding the cession of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina is reported to be causing alarm in neighbouring countries and mobilisation has been ordered in Rumania to meet any possible action by Hungary, where the Russian move was no surprise. The Bulgarian Cabinet has met to consider the situation. The Turkish Fleet is steaming up the Bosphorous to the Black Sea and two military classes have been called up in Anatolia. There are also other evidences of Turkish troop movements. The “New York Times” in an article, “Earthquake in the Balkans,” states that King Carol had no choice and that his new masters in Berlin had warned him to yield. Thus the carving-up of the Balkans had begun and there was no reason to believe that the latest move would be the last. It would be distasteful to Germany and humiliating to Italy. The New York “Herald-Tri-bune” in stating that the move represented power on a grand scale, said that there was only one answer, which was counter-power in terms of guns, ships and organised divisions. The Swiss radio gives additional points in the Soviet ultimatum and says control of the Rumanian oilfields would change the Rumanian political system. It adds that Germany and Italy, in response to a Rumanian request for intervention, declared themselves not interested.

It is reported from Belgrade that telephonic communication between Rumania and Yugoslavia, Hungary and other Balkan States is cut off. CABINET CHANGES SIX MEMBERS REPLACED IN RUMANIA. BUCHAREST, June 28. Six members of the Cabinet, including M. Gigurtu, Foreign Minister, have resigned. Their places were promptly filled, M. Argetoianu replacing M. Gigurtu. M. Tatarescu remains Premier. TURKISH WARSHIPS POLICING BLACK SEA COASTAL WATERS. ISTANBUL, June 28. The battleship Yavuz, formerly the Goeben, and three smaller units of the fleet, left for the Black Sea for the purpose of policing Turkish coastal waters.