Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1941. GERMANY’S BALKAN EFFORT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1941. GERMANY’S BALKAN EFFORT.

ACCORDING to n correspondent in Istanbul, most estimates there give only two or three weeks before the German offensive is launched in the Balkans. There is admittedly a good deal to support these estimates, although they rest in part on assumptions that have not yet been conclusively tested — amongst them the assumption that the Soviet, will continue passively to watch a German military operation which, i! it succeeded, would cut off Russia's access to the Mediterranean. In rhe circumstances that exist today, a Balkan offensive means for Germany a war on two fronts and even at the outset some positive and serious disadvantages. It is of considerable importance that Germany cannot use the Balkans as a war corridor without reducing the value of the Balkan countries very materially, from her standpoint, as a granary anti source of food supply. The Nazis, it is true, will bo able to use. in furtherance of a Balkan offensive, stores of Rumanian oil which they lack the means of transporting into Western Europe, but it is unlikely that this will contribute in any appreciable degree to a solution of Germany’s overshadowing problem of coping with the British blockade ami with the direct offensive which Britain, through the agency chiefly as yet of the Royal Air Force, is developing with ever-increasing power. The conditions in which the Germans will launch their offensive are not yet defined in all particulars. While there does not seem to be any doubt that Btilgariti is completely under German domination, a measure of uncertainty exists, at time of writing, in regard to Yugoslavia, A Yugoslavian Minister. Dr Knlenovitch, has stated that: — The Government, under the Prince Regent, has done everything to maintain peace, and will continue its efforts. We must bear the sacrifices made on the altar of peace. This might mean almost anything, but it rather suggests that the Yugoslav Government has madt some concessions to Germany in the hope of being left in peace. It may have agreed to remain inactive while the Germans drive through Bulgaria, or it may have agreed to open its own territory to the passage of German troops, in which event, according to other reports, there is likely to be trouble with the Yugoslav army. Whether Yugoslavia yields to German pressure or resists it, much more is likely to depend gu the attitude of Turkey, and as to this all indications are that Turkey will resolutely defend her independence. Iler Government has declared emphatically that she will do so and, according to the Istanbul correspondent who has already been quoted, Turkish official circles declare that Turkey will not commit the blunder of allowing the establishment of bases in Bulgaria for ultimate aggression. There is at the moment no official statement of the stage at whrch Turkey will take action against German aggression in the Balkans, but on the assumption that Turkey is as genuinely and resolutely determined as she seems to be to defend her freedom, no other supposition is reasonable than that she will take early and vigorous action. Leaving, for example, the undivided fury of the German onslaught to fall on Greece, Turkey- would in a measure be inviting her own ultimate overthrow. Nothing could more admirably suit Hitler’s purpose than that he should be allowed to attack his intended victims one at a time. As in other areas of war. the only prospect any Balkan country has of future freedom and security is in the complete defeat and extirpation of the Nazis. Nothing but weakness and fear will account for any country, in the Balkans or elsewhere, yielding to Nazi dictation. It is true that Hitler and his gang are making some play at present with promises to the countries to which they are seeking to extend their sway. They are said, for example, to be offering Yugoslavia, as the price of her connivance and assistance in their Balkan offensive, part of Albania, now held or claimed by Italy, and the Greek port of Salonika, with a corridor of approach. On the other hand, \ngoshivia, it is reported, is being asked to transfer some territory to Bulgaria. It would be a very credulous child who could be deceived by those tactics. The commanding fact of the war. even al its present stage, is that all the countries under Nazi control, certainly not excluding Italy, are in fact enslaved by Nazi Germany ami are being exploited by her for her own sole benefit. The new order in Europe obviously is intended to be nothing else than the enslavement of Europe under the Nazi whip. No doubt it is a matter of complete indifference to the Nazi gangsters whether a given area is owned nominally by this or that ostensible ally, so long as actual control over the whole of the territories concerned is exercised by the Nazi dictatorship.

lii the present stale of Riunnnia, Brtlgariji and Yugoslavia may see a picture of their own future in the extent to which ii is (leierminml and controlled by the Nazis. With the facts defined thus clearly, it may he believed that if Yugoslavia 1 telds to the Nazis it will be only because she feels resistance to be hopeless. In lairness it must be admitted that with liiltnania in tin* grip of the Nazis and Bulgaria about to he. the position ol 'l ugoslavin is exposed and perilous in an extreme degree.

Fui'key, however, is much less desperatelv placed and an inlfdlioent regard for her own interests may lie expected to induce her to resist to the deatli, in alliance with Greece and Britain, rather than submit tamely to the Nazis. Hitler v ( -rv probably may be at least as much intent on intbieiirin*f Japan and indneing her to enter the war as on gaining anv real success

in his Balkan thrust. Some reasons appear, in anv ease, fop agreeing with the opinion expressed the other day by a Turkish eommeiilator that the Nazis arc likely m find their Balkan adventure both unprofitable and periling. HUAUNITY AND THE BLOCKADE. ”Pl..\('l\(l full responsibility on Germany for the feeding of the people of the Nazi-oceiipied countries.” a Washington (•ablegrain states, “ihe Assistant Sm-reiary of Slate. Mr Sumner Welles, said that the (lo\'ernmen! of the t’nited States would take no part in Mr lloover’s new experimental plan for foml relief in Belgium.'' Implying, as ii does, definite support by tin' I'nited States for an unqualified use of the British blockade weapon, this intimatooi is to be welcomed. I: goes without saying that if account hud to be taken only of the victims of Nazi aggression and ilien needs, help would lie rendered sjweddy and most willingly. The actual position, however, that Nazi (li'i'iiiany is solely r<*sponsd.Je for the deprivations sutYered by the inhabitants of the countries sh< has invaded and oeeupied and that she is deldieratclv denying them relief. Bond shortage and other privations and hardships now being endured in the oeeiipicd countries are due rhirtly to Nazi |dll ndcJ'ilig. effected not by crude methods of obvious robbery, bin under the guise ot purchase am; payment. I nder a sewn titic control <d money ami exchangi. these transactions are so eoiiditcted that the occupied coiinlrirs are stripped ol’ all that the Nazis covet ami get hardly anything in return. fim passage ol ioodstlltls or other goods throm_»h the block,mb' would simply provide the Nazis with mi opport mii'y n! hi L'Usdy mg their process oi sim-nt ife plunder It is a vita! aspect of the posita n. too. that tin- itdia l.ut an t s o: occupied eouiitrms have f.-en mad.-, though mosi un v. i!!; u’ v. part ot t’m- tierman war maehiuc. Ii is impossible to hssit ~m. oi thiiT enrolled hi the to|al 11 arm i. ’.’.ar organisation. Victim or t ask mast bond or free, without strengthening that orx-iin isatiofi as a wmd»‘, and to a corresponding dcorce pos'jmnnig or making more ditTicult the victory of Britain and her aili---., which alom- will bring relief to :he "va-t ims of Nazi I ' has been s;> i d li: -1 1 V o’. Ml' lloo', <■ r kI: d <>! In 4 |‘s V, ho a l'<- a - !■> have tinui tor these victims pa-xed throngi: ;<_<• b, <n-1..,.: ,• !l:a’ in the name of t'hristmn cliarfiy th-y are appeal ; uv for Imlp D>r Hitler.