BALKAN CRISIS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21366, 10 March 1941, Page 6

BALKAN CRISIS

GREEK PREPARATIONS THRACE EVACUATED NAZI THREAT TO TURKEY (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Receievd March 10, 2 p.m.) LONDON, March 9 The Greeks have evacuated the population of Thrace and established a line of defence westward of Salonika, on which the German bomber forces are expected to swoop whenever the Balkans blitz begins. The Turkish Government is still busily stiffening the home front. M. Saracoglu and probably Dr. Saydam. will make statements before the Grand National Assembly early this week, and messages irom all parts of the Balkans suggest that much depends on what they include and exclude in their speeches. Observers point out that the Germans have yet to consolidate their advancing forces and extend their dispositions. They may require some weeks more to complete their armed preparations and employ their diplomatic intrigues. Informed London opinion is that Hitler’s next move may be a frontal attack cn Turkey, aimed at smashing through to the oilfields in Iran and Iraq. The massing of troops on the Greek frontier is regarded as a red herring although there might be a minor German drive into Greece. The American Press’ Belgrade correspondent says that Russia is concentrating troops in the Caucasus near the Turkish frontier, as a precaution against a further German move, while the Times’ Belgrade correspondent says a noticeable increase in Soviet diplomatic activity is lending colour to the widespreadbelief that Yugoslavia will shortly sign some form of pact with Russia. It is now generally believed that the Yugoslav Government will wait to hear what either M. Saracoglu or Dr. Saydam say before publicly defining its attitude. Any Yugoslav declaration will probably offer Germany a pact of friendship similar to the existing one with Italy. American diplomatic circles at Belgrade deny that Mr Roosevelt has attempted to influence Yugoslavia. NOTE TO GREECE; PRESENTED BY GERMANY 2,000,000 TURKISH BAYONETS WILL RESIST AGGRESSION (United Press Ass&.— Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 9 It has been reported, without confirmation, that the German Minister at Athens has presented a Note to the Greek Prime Minister. Another report is that Germans have already crossed the Greek frontier, but this is denied in Berlin. A high Turkish authority stated in Ankara that Turkey would take action at the moment when, in collaboration with Britain, she would get the most effect from her army and geographical position. A Budapest report says bands of Macedonian hillmen filtering into Greece from Bulgaria are offering their services to the Greek army. Others are forming guerilla bands. The Macedonian leader, Mihailoff, has reappeared irom his hiding place. The Turkish press has declared that Turkey does not want German assurances, and is of the opinion the war will inevitably spread to the Balkans. The Demokrat Politika says: “Against the reassurances which me Axis has flung at us stand 2,000,000 1 urkish baycnets. If Germany comes this way sne will get such an answer to these reassurances as she never got before.” 2000 PRISONERS SUCCESS OF GREEK TROOPS ENEMY POSITIONS TAKEN (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 9 The Greek forces in the central sector of the Albanian front captured 1050 prisoners on Friday. The Greeks aimed at occupying certain mountain peaks and positions serving as natural ramparts. Artillery from midnight bombarded the positions from all directions. An infantry assault was delivered at 6.30 a.m. and the Italians resisted stubbornly, but three successive rushes tumbled them irom the mountain escarpment. A second Greek force attacked a parallel line of peaks, a third drove in from the west, and a fourth attacked from vantage points to the westward which are over 6000 ft. high. The battle was decided at 5 p.m., the Greeks occupying six heights each of 5000 ft. For the second successive day the Greeks have captured over 1000 prisoners on the Albanian front, according to the latest Greek communique. At the two main points of resistance the Italian defenders were annihilated. PLEA FOR FIRMNESS YUGOSLAVIA'S INDEPENDENCE firmed Press Assn —Elec. Tel. Copyright) 'BELGRADE. March 8 Police ra'd»ng the Democratic party, the of Serbian Patriotic Societies. confiscated copies of a manifesto urging Prince Paul to stand firmly 3gainst ar.y attempt on Yugoslavia’s independence.