NAZIS’ NEXT 'MOVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1941, Page 5

NAZIS’ NEXT 'MOVE

WIDESPREAD CONJECTURE MEDITERRANEAN THREAT. MANY RUMOURS AFLOAT. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, December 16. With the Germans fighting on the defensive in Russia, the question of where will Hitler’s next blow fall is being widely discussed. It is believed in many quarters that his most likely move will be an ambitious Mediterranean assault, aimed at the elimination of the Mediterranean Fleet and domination of North Africa, including Egypt. Commentators already detect the opening moves of such a campaign, including the attempt to. stabilise the Russian front and Bulgaria s entiy into the war, which constitutes a renewed threat to’ Turkey. Istanbul is buzzing with rumours that the Germans are taking over the Bulgarian airfields, while competent Turkish observers believe that January will see the Germans massed in the Balkans ready lor a descent on Turkey. Newspaper correspondents in Istanbul declare there is no room to doubt that Germany will compel Bulgaria to fight. In addition, there has been an intensification of the Nazi pressure on Spain. The bludgeoning of Vichy clearly has one objective, namely, the complete co-operation of France in Hitler’s new order, coupled with the handing over of the French Navy. A belief prevails that the Germans contemplate a vast pincers drive with the left arm advancing through Turkey and the right arm through Spain, for which Hitler would need Spanish, Portuguese and North African bases, while the French fleet

would be employed in convoying troops, supplies and'' war materials. Should the Germans enter the peninsula the Portuguese Premier, Dr. Salazar, would declare Portugal’s neutrality and the Government would move to the Azores.