Evening star., 1940-10-15
Balkans Looking for
Russian CIorificotion

BUCHAREST. Oct. Is (P,.-Soviet
Russia was estimated today to have
modified between 10 and - divi-
sions-from 10000 to 10000 men
on her frontier with Rumania.
These figures, however. were not
confirmed and the Balkans still
looked for clarification of the Krem-
Inns attitude as the key to the deli
cate Balkan situation.
Fear that sabotage in a mys-
terious fire which destroyed three
of Rumania's oil wells yesterday
might set off the trouble was al
layed by an official statement that
the blaze was due to an accident.
British Envoy Remains.
Sir Reginald Hoare. British Min
lister to Rumania. still is here with
a skeleton staff, primarily to look
after the interests of four British
oil men still under arrest an charges
of sabotage. Virtually all other
British subjects are leaving this
week.
On London. authoritative cir
cles said Sir Reginald will decide
for himself if it is necessary for
him to leave Rumania and will
be guided by Developments
The oil fire, which destroyed wells
at Baicoi, in the Ploesti district, wars
controlled after a three hour fight
directed by German specialists.
The incident emphasized, how
ever, German concern for her vital
Rumanian sources of petroleum
protection of which is being taken
over by Nazi troops streaming in
by train and Danube River barges
All installations underground and
on the surface were destroyed at the
three wells. A fourth was reported
damaged.
Turkish Stand Made Clear.
While the Germans speeded their
announced task of recognizing and
undermining the Rumanian Army,
foreign observers saw increasing
signs that Russia is fastening to
build an equally powerful military
machine all along the Russian-Ru-
manian frontier. Russian troops
were reported pouring into border
areas and rushing construction of
five new military airdromeS.
Turkey-Britain's nom belligerent
ally-made no secret of her stand.
The Turkish press issued chal-
lenging statements limiting that
German moves in Rumania were
prejudicial to Russian interests and
indicating Turkeys intention to
fight, if the Germans attempt to
cross her territory toward the Mosul
oil fields at Iraq.
The official Turkish radio declared
last night that Russian troop con-
centrationS in Bucovina and BesSa-
rabia Cthe frontier provinces which
Rumania ceded Russia June 20 are
significant, and the Soviet silence is
full of meaning"
The creation Of German air and
naval bases at Constanta, Rumania 5
Black Sea port, is directed against
Soviet Russia" the radio asserted
The signs of mounting Soviet
strength in the southeast appeared
certain to neutral observers to have
a strong effect on Bulgaria. with its
deep-rooted faith in Russia as her
protector-making difficult any
direct move by the Sofia govern
ment to tie in with the axis powers
1t seemed equally certain that
Bulgaria must swing into line with
the axis, if Germany hopes tC
penetrate the Near East.
Still another stumbling block to
Bulgarian cooperation with Ger
man aspirations is the generally
recognized feeling of the Bulgars
that they made mistake in choos-
ing sides in the last war and thai
they would do we'll to stay neuTa
In this one.
There were widespread rumors
. NC