BALKAN TENSION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1941, Page 3

BALKAN TENSION

NAZI CONCENTRATION IN RUMANIA regarded seriously IN TURKEY. POSITION OF BULGARIA. ißy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright < LONDON. January 27 With the establishment by General Antonescu of a military Cabinet in Rumania there is evidence of a tensor situation throughout the Balkans. Turkish opinion seems to bo undergoing a change from the equanimity with which the Germans in Rumania have hitherto been regarded. The British and Turkish staff talks are interpreted as a demonstration '.hat Britain is taking cognisance of all the possibilities in this area of Europe. .The Turkish Press reflects the offi- : cial feeling that the German troop; concentrations in Rumania are begin-; ning tn assume an offensive aspect. Their number is estimated at 160.9301 and is increasing daily. The Turks are envisaging a Gorman; descent toward Salonika. They do not ! believe that the Bulgars will be able 1 ' to offer much resistance to the passage; of Germans across Bulgaria. Other j recent conversations between Britain' and Turkey are assumed to have taken* account of all the measures to be taken ! in such an event, with or without Bul-j garian assistance. The Bulgarian Premier. Professor', Filoff. today again declared that Bui-, garia must become an invincible fortress and that every Bulgar must do his utmost in the defence of the country, i General Antonescu's new Cabinet! consists of generals, except in the Ministries of Justice and Propaganda. Gen- i oral Antonescu remains Premier and Foreign Minister. General Popescu is Minister of the interior, and General lacobici, Minister of Defence. General Antonescu has purged the Cabinet of all members of the Iron Guard and al! supporters of King Carol's regime, and has dismissed the mayors of al! large towns and appointed his own nominees. General von Killinger. German troops and members of the military mission were prominent in ar impressive State funeral of 17 members of the Rumanian army killed in the .•ebellion. The task of the Rumanian Ministry is said to be to restore order in the country and repair the wrongs done by different regimes during the last few years. Although life in Rumania is reported to be almost normal again, strong guards arc still being maintained at public buildings. The German news agency reports the militarising of all police stations on the frontier and at the ports, aerodromes and railway stations. Small groups of men are still! reported to be resisting the army in i parts of Transylvania.