SOVIET ACTIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21363, 6 March 1941, Page 7

SOVIET ACTIVE

TROOPS ON FRONTIER ATTITUDE TO TURKEY BULGARIA CRITICISED (United press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Cupyrig-n:) LONDON, March 4 Russia has reinforced her troops on the frontier ol' Rumania, in which country mobilisation is proceeding swiftly under the direction of German staff officers. The Soviet has ordered a blackout in Odessa, Kishinev, and Czernowitz, says a iater message, and more motorised units of the Red Army have been moved up to the frontier from Kiev. American diplomats say they are not optimistic regarding the Balkans situation. They believe Germany has manoeuvred Yugoslavia into a position where resistance is hopeless and that it is doubtful whether Turkey will fight unless Stalin deserts the Russo-German agreement. The general conclusion in London is that it is futile to pretend that the Soviet Note to Bulgaria means any change in Russian policy. The Turks interpret Russia’s most recent declarations as meaning that she is not disposed to go to war for Balkan interests until Germany is seriously weakened, for which reason it is felt that, should Turkey resist strongly, Russia would not be displeased. The Yugoslav press gives prominence to the Russian Note, which is regarded as a Russian Guarantee to Turkey that she would not stab Turkey in the back if Turkey moved against the Germans. The Russian radio has repeated in Bulgarian its disapproval of Bulgaria’s attitude. Soviet-Nazi Friction A party of Roman Catholic clergy who have arrived at Lisbon from Lithuania report that Russia has completely cut off that country’s [foreign rews sources, says the Lisbon correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. Kaunas, the capital, is an armed camp, being full of troops who are occupying every important building. The Russians and Germans face each other across the frontier in undisguised hostility. Both are rapidly completing fortifications and evacuating the frontier zones. Russian officials freely boast of the day when the Soviet will overrun a defeated Germany. Civilians on the Russian side have been evacuated for a distance of 15 miles from the frontier. The Germans have evacuated a zone one mile deep. Thousands of workers on both sides are building concrete defence works, digging trenches and erecting barbed-wire. SENTENCED TO DEATH ESPIONAGE AND SABOTAGE ; United Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 6. 11.40 a.m.) THE HAGUE. March 5 A German court sentenced to death IS persons for alleged espionage and sabotage.