SIGNS & PORTENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1941, Page 5

SIGNS & PORTENTS

ON YUGOSLAV FRONTIER NAZI AIR AND OTHER PREPARATIONS. BELGRADE DECLARED OPEN TOWN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright > LONDON,' April 3. 11 is officially announced in Yugoslavia that Belgrade, Zagreb and Ljubljana have been declared open towns. The Yugoslav radio also warned the citizens of Belgarde that the city must be blacked out when air raid sirens sound tonight. The broadcast coincided with rumours in the capital that German air units are concentrating near the Yugoslav frontier.

The anti-aircraft defences went into action at Maribor when a foreign fighter flew overhead. Skoplje is full of soldiers moving to strategic positions throughout the Vardar Valley. The Belgrade correspondent of “The Times,” says the German military movements are in full swing. A number of fast, light German tanks have reached the Yugoslav border in the Rumanian Banat region. Tanks and lorries have entered Hungary, and 20 German tanks are reported to have been seen in the Hungarian capital. Yugoslav mobilisation has been completed and King Peter has signed a new order enforcing army discipline. Duke Peter Vojovitch has been appointed Inspector-General of the Yugoslav forces in succession to the ex-Rcgcnt Prince Paul. The leader of the Hungarian minority in Yugoslavia has telegraphed to King Peter, expressing the loyalty of the Hungarian citizens. The Belgrade radio announced that General Sir Archibald Wavell and Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham had arrived at Ankara for staff talks. There is no confirmation elsewhere of this. It is reported from Rome that civilians are evacuating Zara (an Italian possession on the Yugoslav coast). Three thousand women, children, aged and sick are going to Italy.

CROAT LEADER JOINS CABINET. Meanwhile the failure of German propaganda and diplomacy to divide the Croats and Serbs is confirmed by Dr. Matchek’s acceptance of the VicePremiership in General Simovitch’s Government. Dr. Matchek. who is leader of the Croatian Peasant Party, issued a statement calling on the Croat authorities and also the Croat Guard to co-operate with the new Government and the army for the preservation of peace. He added: "After long consultation I have decided to re-enter the United Government and do all possible to save peace. By my entry into the Government all rights secured for the Croat people are not only guaranteed but notably widened. "The entire Croat people must help me by discipline and order. I especially ask all army reservists immediately to answer the summons to the colours. lam sure the Serbian leaders desire peace as much as myself, and 1 believe that peace can be saved." Berlin is said to have ordered the entire German Legation, except the German Charge d'Affaires and the Military Attache, to return to Germany.