AXIS DEMANDS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21371, 15 March 1941, Page 10

AXIS DEMANDS

YUGOSLAV RESISTANCE TENSION IN BALKANS HITLER’S LIKELY PLAN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 13 Opposition to Yugoslavia is growing against the sweeping demands : reported to have been made by the i Axis. j Yugoslav military circles are re- ! ported to be discussing the possi- ! bility of armed resistance. I Prince Paul has resumed consultaj tions with political and military leaders. Well-informed circles consider that when Hitler recognises that Yugoslavia is determined to resist any transport of German troops across her territory he will accept a pact of “ neutral friendship ” between Germany and Yugoslavia. The fact that over 1,000,000 Yugoslavs have been called up, and that the whole nation is in a watchful and resolute temper, is believed to have had a subduing influence on German diplomacy. The Ankara radio announced that it had received reports that Italian and German troops are massing on the Yugoslav frontiers. The Belgrade radio quotes a Berlin denial of reports that a German ultimatum has been served on Yugoslavia. The spotlight has suddenly turned on Hungary, with an official Hungarian telegraphic agency denying that a call-up has been ordered and rumours of troops being concentrated on the frontier. The Ankara radio states that there appears to be some conflict between the aims of Germany and Italy in Greece. The Italians want territory gains, whereas Germany is more interested in securing Mediterranean bases. CUT OFF THE AIR OPPOSITION TO NAZIS SPEECH BY DUTCHMAN iUnited press Asst.. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 4 A Dutchman, who confirmed that anti-Nazi riots had occurred in Holland, was dramatically cut off the air by the Germans when his broadcast through Bremen Radio became too anti-Nazi. Eight people were killed and 42 injured in the rioting, he told listeners. He was put before the Bremen microphone by the Germans to beg the Dutch people to ‘‘behave themselves” and to warn them that Germany would take more drastic measures if there was any repetition of the antiNazi disturbances. “Do not call me a traitor because I speak from a German radio sta--1 tion,” he said. “The riots have been j carried out by rebellious Dutchmen, I who will not accept German adminI istration. “Dutch officers still in uniform will | not acknowledge salutes from Gert man officers when they pass in the streets. Dutch soldiers will not salute German officers. “Gradually, resistance is growing, with malicious acts and little pestering habits, such as, for instance, Dutch civilians sticking out their tongues to German soldiers. “Because of the present behaviour of the Dutch people, the Germans have declared martial law in Amsterdam, and have threatened that I those who will not listen to warnings j will soon feel the consequences, j “If the Germans, during the I French occupation of the Rhineland, i had dared to do one-tenth of what j you are doing, the French would have taken the most vigorous steps to—” Here the broadcast was suddenly ended by the cutting-off of the microphone.