VAST OFFENSIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1943, Page 3

VAST OFFENSIVE

AGAINST GERMAN FORCES IN BALKANS PREDICTED BY ALL TURKISH NEWSPAPERS. EXPECTANCY IN VARIOUS QUARTERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, December 8. The British and American chiefs of staff are engaged at Alena House, Cairo, in dovetailing the final details for the attacks on Germany and Japan, says the Cairo correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency. The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says the conference with the Turkish leader is regarded in Cairo as tantamount to Turkey’s assumption of an altitude of benevolent non-belligerency instead of the strict neutrality she has observed so far. Turkey may now be expected to aid the Allies with all steps short of war. It may be assumed that the Allies and Turkey have fully co-ordinated their plans for any eventuality, including the opening of the Dardanelles as a supply route to Russia. The Cairo correspondent of the London “Daily Express” says Turkey is likely to remain neutral at least for the present. Turkey has both a treaty of alliance wtih Britain and a pact of non-aggression with Germany. The communique issued after the conference revealed that Turkey was fully informed of all Turkish implications in the Teheran conference, and particularly Russian aspirations in the Balkans and Middle East, says the British United Press correspondent. It is believed the Allied leaders gave Turkey military assurances, including defence of the Dardanelles against a German attack, the' correspondent says. FURTHER TALKS POSSIBLE. Churchill and Roosevelt may participate in other big talks before returning home, says the British United Press correspondent. One suggestion which carries weight in view of the current French feeling of 'being left out in the cold is that Messrs Churchill and Roosevelt will visit General de Gaulle. It is also suggested that the Prime Minister and the President will meet General Franco, a meeting with whom would help to define more clearly Spain’s altitude to the war and perhaps prompt her to sever her connections with the Axis. The tacit Anglo-American recognition of Russia’s interest in the Balkans and other countries bordering on the Soviet Union, it is believed, will cause the biggest of repercussions'among the various exiled Governments. The Berlin radio stated that the Turkish Cabinet went into special session immediately upon President Inonu’s return to Ankara. A Zurich message, quoting advice from Bering says that Dr. Goebbels has called a conference of departmental chiefs and prominent leaders in Berlin to discuss the situation arising from the Teheran conference. Every Turkish newspaper yesterday expressed the belief that a vast offensive is about to open against the Germans in the Balkans. It is expected that simultaneous operations will be undertaken from the Aegean coast to the Adriatic. Meanwhile, the German Press is devoting much space to events in the Balkans and on measures to check an invasion. In spite of an official statement in Cairo that there is no con,firmation that German troops have been massed on the Turkish frontier, reports continue to reach Cairo that the Germans are massing land, sea and air forces in southern Bulgaria and specially in eastern Rumania facing Turkey and along the Black Sea coast. Large detachments of German troops, ' including a considerable force of motorised infantry, are also reported to be gathering at Salonika and gradually ' embarking toward Lemnos Island, . which commands the Aegean entrance : of the Dardanelles.