BALKAN CONFERENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 January 1943, Page 3

BALKAN CONFERENCE

PLANNED BV HITLER IN ATTEMPT TO SQUEEZE HIS ALLIES DRY. RUMANIA’S FEARFUL LOSSES. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, January 15. Hitler it/planning 3 Balkan conference in Vienna, in an attempt to deal with the increasingly tense relations between the Balkan States, says a Geneva ;dispatch to the Tass Agency. General Antonescu’s visit to Hitler last week is regarded as a prelude to the conference, which will also deal with Balkans economic and political, problems. It is revealed that Hitler recently discussed military and economic support for Germany with the Bulgarian, Hungarian and Rumanian War Ministers. "The Times” correspondent on the German frontier says it is reliably reported that out of the thirty Rumanian divisions in Russia the losses already are about 400,000 Cnly four divisions are within Rumania, and it is impossible to supply further manpower for Hitler. It is regarded as certain that Antonescu made this cleai to Hitlei. The Rumanians suffered extremely heavy looses in the Stalingrad area. Five entire divisions, including three generals, were lost north-west of Stalingrad within the week after the opening of the Russian offensive. Financial and economic, experts, who accompanied Antonescu, insisted that Rumania must no longer be regarded as Potential source of supplies for Germany, except for petroleum. The drain on Rumanian manpower has so affected agriculture that there has been a serious deterioration in the food situation. Rumania's general situation is worse than that of any of Germany’s allies, with the possible exception of Finland Reuter’s Istanbul correspondent says thousands of rank and file of Rumanian democrats are resisting the attempt to crush opposition to Antonescu’s collaboration with Germany. Hitler, holding the Iron Guard as a trump card, is reported to have told Antonescu that he will "deliver the goods. A reshuffle of the puppet State of Slovakia completes reports of uneasiness in Southeastern Europe. Czechslovakian circles in London hav° P learned that Bela Tuka has been deprived of the Vice-Presidency of the Hlinka Party, which is a counterpart of the Nazi Party. The President of Slovakia. Count Tiso, now completely controls the party. '