SOVIET ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1940, Page 5

SOVIET ACTION

CONCENTRATION OF TROOPS REPORTED NEAR THE DANUBE DELTA. VAST ENCAMPMENT ROUND CERNAUTI. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 13. The Balkans correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says it now appears that German troops are in full control of the Rumanian oil-fields and all other strategic points. A constant stream of new arrivals bound for the Danube ■ delta is reported from numerous points. The Bucharest correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says informed circles state that Russia is concentrating troops in Galatia (south Bessarabia, near the Danube delta). The area round Cernauti (in the former northern Rumania) has been converted into a vast Russian army encampment. Russian river warcraft stationed in Bessarabia are reported to have penetrated Rumanian territorial waters. / MANY PRECAUTIONS CONSTRUCTION OF NEW AERODROMES REPORTED DEMONSTRATION IN BUCHAREST. FOLLOWING ON DEATH OF PEDESTRIAN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 14. A Reuter correspondent states that .the Russians are constructing i five new aerodromes in Bessarabia. It is believed the troops there include 12 divisions of infantry with heavy artillery and mechanised units. The Russian precautions in the Black Sea include an order forbidding navigation by foreign vessels in Soviet waters. The Germans are reported to be preparing a naval base on the Black Sea. Another message states that Italians are expected to arrive shortly to prepare a seaplane base. One hundred and fifty Britons are preparing to leave Rumania today and about the same number are expected to depart later this Week. The German troops in Rumania are believed to number between 20,000 and 30,000, and more are said to be coming. Their presence is creating resentment among Rumanians. In Bucharest, where the German officers are living in palatial hotel quarters, four of them, after dining extremely well, knocked down and killed a pedestrian when driving in Bucharest, and an angry demonstration by a large crowd occurred. The feeling in the Rumanian army against the German forces is reported to be very strong.

Turkish papers today repeat the reminder to Germany that a strong Turkish army is standing ready for any emergency, and state that Germany must take the Soviet Union into account. One newspaper states that Russia would not allow the Dardanelles to pass into German hands.