BALKAN MENACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1941, Page 5

BALKAN MENACE

MORE NAZI TROOPS SENT INTO ROMANIA

PONTOON BRIDGES BUILT ACROSS DANUBE, PROVIDING ENTRY TO BULGARIA The infiltration of German troops into Rumania continues. the 8.8. C. reports. Besides mechanised or armoured divisions, a large number of German planes continue to arrive. Two mechanised divisions are said to be based on a Black Sea port. The Germans have put pontoon bridges across the Danube. ALL SHIPPING STOPPED DURING GERMAN BRIDGING OPERATIONS. — ' EFFECT OF TURCO-BULGARIAN PACT. I (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright' LONDON. February 20. It is announced from Budapest that all shipping on the Danube stopped while the Germans threw pontoon bridges across the river from Giurgiu on the Rumanian side to Rustchuk on the Bulgarian side. The Germans afterward tested the bridges by crossing in loaded lorries to Bulgaria, returning to Rumania before dark. There has been some further comment from Turkey today about the pact signed with Bulgaria. One Turkish newspaper, replying to suggestions that the signing of the pact means that Bulgaria has secured Turkey's neutrality with a view to allowing the passage of German troops through Bulgaria, says: “Without hesitation, Turkey’s reply is ‘No.’" It adds: “There is irrefutable proof that Bulgaria, by signing the declaration, unreservedly recognises Anglo-Turkish and Turkish-Greek friendship and alliances. A Turkish deputy, writing in another newspaper, declares that the war of nerves which the Axis has lost in the Balkans was shattered by the fortress-like strength of Turkey. When Turkey signed the mutual assistance agreement with Britain and France in 1939 she was perfectly conscious of the responsibility attaching to her decision. Today, as hitherto, he says, the Turkish people follow the same path as the British, always remaining sincere friends in good and bad days, and allies with the same ideal. A Rumanian view of the TurkishBulgarian declaration is given in a Bucharest newspaper, which says: "It may. perhaps, be considered as a fresh instrument for the maintenance of peace in the Balkans. The impression given is that the declaration is a manifestation of the desire for peace of the two countries—not only peace between themselves, but petice for the whole Balkan region.” He stressed that the pact is further proof of Bulgaria's "policy of peace.''