ATTACK ON TURKEY?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 March 1941, Page 5

ATTACK ON TURKEY?

WITH EASTERN OILFIELDS THE OBJECTIVE Speculation About Hitler’s Next Move DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE CONTINUES RUSSIAN TROOPS IN THE CAUCASUS (By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, March 9. Informed opinion in London is that Hitler’s next move may be a frontal attack on Turkey aimed at smashing through to the oilfields in Iran and Irak. The massing of troops on ..lie Greek frontier is regarded as a red herring, though it may oe for the purpose of a minor German drive into Greece. Ankara radio, confirming the reports that there is increased German diplomatic pressure on Yugoslavia and Turkey, said that Germany has offered Turkey railway engines, machines and other goods if she will break her bonds with Britain. In Istanbul a decree has temporarily suspended the newspaper “Yeni Sabah.” The German Ambassador, Herr von Papen, protested against the newspaper’s recent outspoken editorials against Germany. The Greeks have evacuated the population ol Ihrace and established a line of defence west of Salonika, on which German bomber forces are expected to swoop whenever the Balkans “blitz” begins. , The Turkish Government is still busily stiffening tne home front. The Foreign Minister, M. Saracoghi. and probably the Premier, Dr Savdam, are to make statements before the Grand National Assembly earlv this week, and messages from all parts of the Balkans suggest that much depends on what they include in or exclude from their speeches. Observers point out that the Germans have yet to consolidate their advancing forces and extend their dispositions. They mav reouire some weeks more to complete their aimed 'preparationsand employ their diplomatic intrigues. The Belgrade correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that Russia is concentrating troops in the Caucasus near the Turkish frontier as a precaution against a further German move, while the Belgrade correspondent of “The Times.” says that a noticeable increase in Soviet diplomatic activity is lending colour to the widespread belief that Yugoslavia will shortly sign some form of pact with Russia. It is now generally believed that the Yugoslav Government will wait to hear what either M. Saracoghi or Dr Saydam says before it publicly defines its attitude. Any Yugoslav declaration would probably offer Germany a pact of friendship similar 1o the existing one with Italy. American diplomatic circles in Belgrade deny that President Roosevelt has attempted to influence Yugoslavia.