LULL IN BALKANS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21372, 17 March 1941, Page 5

LULL IN BALKANS

ATTITUDE OF YUGOSLAVIA GERMANS CONCENTRATED OBLIGATIONS OF TURKEY (United press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 15 For the first time in a fortnight there is a lull in the Balkans. The spate of rumours circulating in Belgrade has died down. Any reports of negotiations between Germany and Yugoslavia came from other Balkan countries. The Ankara radio reported that Yugoslavia was prepared to sign only a declaration of non-aggression and an economic agreement with Germany. Other unconfirmed reports are that 60,000 Italians are massed on the Yugoslavia-Albania frontier, while Germany has concentrated large forces on the northern frontier. Obligations of Turkey The editor of the Ankara paper Ulus in a broadcast from Istanbul, said if Yugoslavia resisted German aggression, Turkey would fulfil her obligations by effectively aiding Yugoslavia and Greece. If Yugoslavia adhered to the Axis, Turkey would consider herself freed from the obligation. Ten people were killed and 14 injured when 23 tank trucks were destroyed in an oil train from Rumania which was derailed at Oboriste, in Bulgaria, near the Rumanian border. The police suspect sabotage. British People Arrested Ten British nationals, one of whom was a woman, were among 74 people arrested in Bucharest “ to suppress occurrences threatening the existence and interests of the State.” The Budapest correspondent of the Havas agency says the British consulate has asked British nationals not possessing diplomatic passports to leave Hungary. Following the bomb outrage on his departure from Bulgaria, the former British Minister to Sofia, Mr George Rendel, personally inspected his party s baggage before leaving Istanbul for Ankara with members of the British Legation staff from Sofia. Yugoslavia's Independence Yugoslavia's position was referred to late last night during a surprise broadcast by the Belgrade radio, in which the announcer read a statement which, although not claimed to be official, was apparently inspired. It referred to Yugoslavia's .deals of liberty, independence and pea;e, to which, the announcer said, the remained faithful. “It is the wish of Yugoslavia to remain a non-belligerent country in this international conflict, but she is determined to take up arms should the necessity arise to defend her independence,” said the statement. “That is the reason why we must continue to keep up the strength of our fighting forces, ready for any eventuality. “Those who are our real iriends will realise that our armed forces are only kept under arms for the defence of the country. We wish others, who are perhaps not so friendly, to realise that any attempt to attack Yugoslavia will be met with armed force. Further, we wish to emphasise that we cannot be expected to sacrifice our independence for the benefit of foreign interests.”

HEAVY AIR ATTACKS

RAIDS ON OIL PLANTS WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION SHIPPING, DOCKS, AERODROMES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 15 The Air Ministry states that a heavy and successful attack was made on the Gelsenkirchen synthetic oil plants, and on the industrial area of Dusseldorf, on Friday night. Other targets in the Ruhr also were bombed. In addition night raids were made on shipping, aerodromes and docks at a number of points on the coast from Norway to Brest. A large force of aircraft took part, says the British official wireless. It was a clear night, with a full moon and no cloud, but at Gelsenkirchen the factories were hard at work and the smoke from the chimneys mingled with a thick ground haze. This was not enough to hide the town, and several pilots found the weather ideal for bombing. Flares were used to find the oil plants. One of these, floating down to the roof of a large building, started a good fire in the plant. Bombs were seen to burst over the whole area of the factory. It took some time for the fires to get going, but, once started, they quickly gained hold, and soon columns of black smoke intermingled with the leaping flames. Toward the end of the raid the fires were so extensive that the pilot of the last aircraft found the whole target completely illuminated. The tall chimneys were sharply silhouetted against the glow. At another oil plant tire fires started earlier. They quickly changed from white to fierce red, which showed the flames had eaten their way into the buildings. Great Fires in Dusseldorf In the meantime, 25 miles away, fires were streaming up from Dusseldorf after a short concentrated attack on the industrial centre of the city. The smoke eddying over the city gave little trouble. A high pro* portion of incendiaries was used. One pilot far over the Ruhr saw fires to the west, where oil storage tanks at Rotterdam had been attacked. As he approached Rotterdam he saw a huge column of smoke rising from the blaze. The enemy was encouraged by the bright moonlight to send up many night fighters, and once again there were several inconclusive encounters. Two fighter pilots who flew over to France during the night found an aerodrome with 20 bombers on the ground. The fighters attacked at a low level after penetrating blue searchlights, heavy machine-gun fire and pompoms, which were firing red, white and blue shells. From all these operations two British machines are missing. British bombers attacked targets in Western Germany again on Saturday night. The enemy submarine base at Lorient also was bombed. Further Attacks Made A Air Ministry communique states: Widespread and increasing fog over the Continent last night restricted our operations against the enemy, but despite this two forces of the Bomber Command made determined attacks on Dusseldorf. where the industrial areas which were attacked the previous night were bombed again, and on the submarine base at Lorient. From these operations one of our planes is missing. JOURNALIST ARRESTED SUSPECTED OF ESPIONAGE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlglit) BERLIN, March 15 An American Journalist, Mr Richard Hottelot, a member of the Berlin staff of the United Press of America, has been arrested on suspicions of espionage for an enemy power.