Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1941. CO-OPERATION IN THE BALKANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1941. CO-OPERATION IN THE BALKANS

\CC(>IiI)ING to an overseas commentator, the possibilities of the situation created in the Balkans by the Nazi subjugation of: Bulgaria are manifold, but it is not among these possibilities that the British, Greek and Turkish Governments should supinely await Hitler’s convenience. It must be hoped that this resolutely optimistic view is to the fullest extent justified. Whatever detail obscurities still exist, notably in regard to the policy ultimately to be adopted by Yugoslavia, it is clear that, if the prospective German thrust into the comparatively narrow tract of territory along the northern seaboard of the Aegean is to be stemmed in good time, effective combined action must be taken by Britain, Greece and Turkey.

Very roughly and briefly, the position meantime reached is that, in their military occupation of Bulgaria, the Germans have gained full command, as far as the Bulgarian frontier, of two great river valleys, those of the Struma, and Maritza, leading respectively into Macedonia and Thrace. Should Yugoslavia in her turn yield to the Axis, the Nazis would be presented with further avenues of invasion—the valley of the Vardar and the Monastir Pass, lying further west, towards the frontier of Albania. The mountain passes through winch approach to the Aegean is practicable, not least the Struma and Maritza gaps, offer excellent defensive positions. On their own frontiers and in Albania, the Greeks have given a magnicent demonstration of how much may be accomplished, in difficult mountain country, by a. small but active and resolute army against enemy forces much more numerous and possessed of a, vastly superior mechanical equipment.

At the indeterminate but immensely critical stage to which events have been carried in the Balkans, it is self-evident that Britain is bound by every consideration of justice and of loyalty to a. gallant ally to give Greece all the assistance in her power. A. report on Saturday that British air support for the Greeks in Albania has already been increased considerably is only what was to be expected and it may be taken for granted that it is far from being the last word on the subject. The German attack on Greece which to all appearance is imminent will make it more than ever imperative that Britain should- do her utmost to assist her ally.

Vital as is the factor of British aid, however, much must depend also on the extent to which the Balkan countries which have not yet fallen under Nazi domination are prepared to co-operate in defence of their independence and integrity. Of these countries, Greece has made- her resolution known. Her Prime Minister declared recently, in the first of a series of broadcasts to the United States, that his countrymen “are indifferent to threats, and with the help of our great allies, and the sympathy of powerful friends across the seas, we shall go on to victory.” Yugoslavia was told recently by the Turkish radio that: “It is better to die than to sign the Axis Pact.” and, in a presumably authoritative utterance, the political editor of the semi-official Turkish newspaper “Ulus” has now stated that if Yugoslavia resisted German aggression, which would probably come from Bulgaria, Turkey would assume her obligations by aiding Greece and Yugoslavia effectively, but if Yugoslavia adhered to the Axis Turkey would consider herself free from obligations towards Yugoslavia. A question of crucial importance, still left open, concerns the point at which Turkey will be prepared to take action against. German aggression in the event of Yugoslavia submitting to the Axis. Turkey has proclaimed with obvious sincerity her determination to resist aggression, but it has to be recognised that her opportunities of co-operating effectively with Greece will be narrowed very seriously if Yugoslavia elects to become a satellite and pawn of the Axis. While something must depend on the conditions of military co-operation Turkey is offered, it may be expected to weigh decisively with her Government and people that she is threatened not less seriously than Greece by the German occupation of Bulgaria. Some ten days ago, it was reported that the German vanguard in Bulgaria had reached the Greek frontier, but that the invaders were “avoiding the Maritza valley”— that is to say, the direct approach to the great Turkish frontier fortress of Adrianople. At Philippolis, however, the Nazis stand at a railway junction looking straight down the Maritza valley. It is equally significant that as soon as they entered Bulgaria, the Germans hastened to take control of Varna, the one important Black Sea port in Bulgaria. Varna, as an Australian military correspondent wrote recently, is of no significance whatever for a direct southern German move towards Greece alone. It does not help in any way. But it is most important if the Germans want to .come down the coast to Turkey, or if they contemplated naval pressure in the Black Sea, or if they were considering movements of troops across the Black Sea to various outlying parts of Turkey. From all points of view, Varna points towards Turkey, not Greece. Nothing, in fact, is more obvious than that Turkey is menaced as definitely as Greece by the German thrust into the Balkans and it is in the circumstances wholly improbable that the Turkish forces will neglect any opportunity reasonably open to them of helping to stem the German offensive at the stage at which that may be done most effectively and with the greatest hope of success.