AXIS GLOOMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1943, Page 4

AXIS GLOOMY

OVER PROSPECT OF ATTACK ON BALKANS FEARS OF ALLIED ACTION. DISPOSITION OF ENEMY FORCES. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) ‘ (Received This Day. 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, June 22. Information reaching Istanbul confirms reports of German and Italian anxiety about the position in tlie Balkans. “The Times” Istanbul correspondent says that despite self-conscious attempts at optimism by the Axis Press and radio, it is easy to detect underlying glcomy tones when they are discussing the Axis power cf resistance to any Allied attack on

the Balkan Peninsula. The Rome radio, quoting a message from Ankara, says rail transport for civilians has been completely suspended in the Lebanon and Palestine and a curfew has been imposed. In the Lebanon motor vehicles are being requisitioned. “The Times” correspondent, estimates that Axis forces in the Balkans comprise 29 Italian divisions, 17 German divisions and 20 Bulgarian divisions. Six cf the German divisions have arrived within the last few months. In addition there are some German naval contingents and heavy artillery units. Italians hold the western parts of Yugoslavia and Greece and also Albania . The Germans occupy Central Yugoslavia, the region around Salonika and the greater part of the Greek coast, including the Peloponnesus and practically all the islands. Bulgarians are garrisoned in Bulgarian-occupied parts of Serbia and Greece and in Bulgaria itself. The correspondent expresses the opinion that German resistance will be centred on Crete and the Dodecanese, where they have sent some contingents lately, and also on the coasts of Attica, the Peloponnesus and Macedonia. All the other Greek islands are weakly 'garrisoned, and it is doubtful if the Germans will put up resistance there, except on Lemnos, which is believed to be strongly garrisoned and fortified on account of Mudros Bay.