The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-10-28
BRITAIN BUSHES
FLEET TO GREECE
CONTINUED from Page y


Greece had appealed for certain"
assistance, and it was indicated
strongly in well informed circles
that Britain's fulfllment of her
guarantee to defend Greece against
attack would automatically bring
the aid promised.
A foreign Office statement issued
soon after the expiration of an Ital-
ian ultimatum demanding the right
for italian armed forces to occupy
Greece had said:
"News reaching official circles in
London confirms report that at
3 a. m. (Gfeek time; 8 p. m. Sunday
EST the italian minister at Athens
presented an ultimatum to the
Greek government, expiring at 6 a.
m. I'll p. m. Sunday ESD.
"Details of the ultimatum are not
yet known in London, but it is I'M
derstood that it demands cession of
certain strategic points.
'"The ultimatum has been rejected
by the Greek government and the
prime minister of Greece has told
the italian minister that he regards
the ultimatum as a declaration of
war.
''The Greek government has ap-
pealed to his majesty's government
for certain assistance"
There had been reports that Italy
had submitted demands to Greece
with an affirmative limit for accep-
lance Of about 10 days. But even
though the Axis powers had indi-
Gated determination to break the
ties between Greece and Britain, a
three-hour ultimatum, so strong
that Greece was compelled to re-
gard it as tacit declaration of war,
was unexpected.
May Occupy Crete.
Expecting an eventual Axis move
against Greece, the British press had
suggested that British forces would
at once occupy Crete and other
strategically important Greek isl
ands if Italy attacked.
This move should be, on its face.
simple operation, as the British
t1eet controls the eastern Mediter-
ranean.
The first reaction here to news
OF the Italian move was that Italy
might to some extent have played
into British hands, for the other
Aegean Islands, which guard the
approaches to the Dardanelles and
might provide bases from which
British long range bombing planes
could attack Rumanian oil fields,
Britain had guaranteed Rumania
and Greece against attack at the
same time, but Rumania had CAPT.
tulated to the axis powers.
There was urgent interest here
IN the position of Turkey, which,
cautious as had been its foreign
policy, had indicated that it would
regard threat to Greece as threat
to its own safety.
Diplomatic sources pointed out
that under the Balkan entent Tur-
key is obliged to offer Armedaid to
Greece in event of a Bulgarian at
tack on Greece, but is not obliged
to aid Greece in event of an at
tack by non-Balkan power, such
as Italy or Germany.
The question also may arise, it
was said, as to whether Turkey will
act to facilitate British aid to
Greece.
Russia Plying Safe
So far as could be learned, Rus
! STA has advised Turkey that all
Turkish Self-defense measures are
welcomes by Moscow but it was I'M
derstood that Russia has refrained
from encouraging the Turks to aid
Greece.
The British Exchange Telegraph
reported from Athens that the Greek
chief of general staff announced:
italian military forces began an
attack at $50 this morning (10:3O D.
m. Sunday EST with elements COW
ering the Greek-Italian frontier.
"Our troops are defending their
territory and their country"
Budapest reported receipt by the
Greek legation of a dispatch from
Athens, announcing that Italy in Its
ultimatum accused Greece of giving
the British fleet refueling facilities
at Greek ports of tolerating it's pres
ence in Greek waters and of permit
ting British to use Athens as a center
for exchange Of MILITARY informa-
ton.
Italy demanded that as guar
antee Of good will and neutrality.
Greece consent to the occupation
of certain strategic points by Italian
troops and free passage for italian
troops through Greece in order to
effect their occupation.
Italy called the existent state Of
affairs intolerable, It was said, and
accused Greece of provocative ac-
tion" against Albanian national
leaders.