RED ARMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1941, Page 5

RED ARMY

SAID TO BE OPPOSING STALIN OVER SUBMISSION TO NAZIS REPORTS OF SWEEPING DEMANDS. ANGLO-SOVIET RELATIONS AFFECTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 16. British relations with Russia and the return to Moscow of Bio British Ambassador, Sir Stafford Cripps, maxhave to be reconsidered if M. Stalin concedes Germany’s economic demands, says the “Daily Express.” These demands are reported to be so sweeping as to amount to military concessions, and it is said that they include huge supplies of oil and wheat with direct German supervision of their production and transport. Meanwhile, according to the Helsinki correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” the Red Army is strongly opposing Stalin's policy of appeasing Hitler, and the Commissar of Defence, Marshal Timoshenko, particularly is urging resistance to the Nazi demands.

The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says the British Government not believe Hitler is definitely planning to attack Russia. His concentrations in the east, while they are apparently meant to put pressure on Moscow in the hope of securing political and economic gains by agreement, may also be intended as a screen for sudden military operations else where. PREPARATIONS IN NORWAY. - Press dispatches from Norway reveal extensive German military measures, including mine-laying along the Norwegian coast. Numerous Norwegian ships have been confiscated and control of land traffic has also been strengthened, while farms have been seized in southern and south-western Norway for air bases. German transports in’the Gulf of Bothnia are also reported to bei unloading troops and supplies for transit to Norway.

There is one report in London that German invasion troops have beer?, moved secretly across Belgium to the north of France in the past month. A message from the Finnish capital, Helsinki, says the authorities there are encouraging the evacuation of women and children as a precautionary measure.

The “Daily Mail” says that Sir Stafford Cripps will not return to Moscow unless Mr Churchill urgently requests him to do so. The Ambassador, it is understood, feels that his mission to Moscow has not been a success and has emphasised to the Government his desire to resume his seat in the House of Commons.

The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says Sir Stafford Cripps is to return to Moscow, but the date has not yet been fixed. An earlier message states that the British Ambassador to Turkey, Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hughesson, is reported to have had an interview with the Turkish Foreign Minister, M. Saracoglu. A report from Ankara says it is learnt that German-Soviet matters may have been among the questions discussed.

MANY RUMOURS ONE OF MOBILISATION IN RUSSIA. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 16. Reports of heightening Russian-Ger-man tension are still being received from all parts of Europe. They include one report from Ankara that Russia has declared a general mobilisation and cancelled Army leave. Another report from Stockholm, states that German shipping has been recalled from the Baltic and that the Soviet Baltic fleet is “in a state of alarm.”