The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-10-06
Turkey, Key To Russia
Cleveland Plain Dealer)

With Syria Iraa and Iran eliminated bases of Naz operation thanks to Allied occupation, Ger many is employing tactics to put the squeeze play on Turkey the strategic key to the Black Sea, southern Russia, where Hitlers armies are advanc- ing and the rich oil resources of the Caucasus region It is this object which Germany is further ing in bringing pressure on Bulgaria to become an active military partner of the Axis
 Bulgaria is important in the Nazi scheme only because of it's geographical position. It has been under complete German domination for months Its people, like all Balkan Savs, are strongly aware of their racial affinity with the Russians. Con- munism is a name that has meaning to them. They have given many indications of their dis pleasure with the Nazi attack on Russia and as consequence the German overords have imprisoned thousands of Bulgarans.
 It is the king, the cabinet and the general staff, not the people, that the Germans seek to tie more securely to their chariot in this endeavor to make Bulgaria belligerent. As they hold out glittering promises to Tsar Boris. He can have absolute naval command of the Black Sea. He has no navy now but Italy may furnish it. He can have undsputed trading rights in that area and also a protectorate over the Crmea. The mild appearing Tsar Boris is a great schemer. He is ambitious. He has survived many uprisings against his rule, both popular and military. The lure is one he cannot resist He will do Germanys bidding in this as meekly he allowed the Wehrmacht to come into his country last spring.
 Bulgaria, therefore, will be asked to join Ger many in drive toward the Dardanelles. An effort will be made to resurrect Bulgar Turkish enmities from the last century when the Sultan ruled Bull gara At the appropriate time the Thracian border of European Turkey will blaze The Germans seem impervous to the fact that Bulgaria may blaze in formally too have other occupied countries. Their indifference to this possibility is confession that they are hard pressed in Russia.
 This move will be coupled with pressure at An kara Dr. Karl Clodius, German trade missionary, whose name spells disaster for every country he visits is now in the Turkish capital trying to im- plement the German-Turkish trade treaty. At the same time Franz von Papen, Hitler's envoy to An kara, and Hans Rhode military attache, are in Berlin detailing what progress they have made in boring from within.
 Turkeys time has come. In the one-by-one method of the Germans the frontiers of the non- belgerent neutral Turkey have been reached. Tur- key most likely will remain free of German troops. Hitler's armies could not advance across Anatolia toward the Caucasus while Allied armies are sta- toned along the Syrian, Iraqan and Iranian from tiers of Turkey ready to strike. What Is sought Is the diplomatic imprisonment of Turkey There would be no fear that Turkey would observe the terms of the Montreux Treaty governing the Dar- daneles or honor her treaty of friendship with Britain drive by well land could be made for the Baku oil fields German armies in the southern Ukraine could be supported with sup plies and endorsements by sea much more easily than is possible by land.
 The real decision in this development lies in Ankara, not Sofia Allied diplomacy of the most skifu sort is called for. If Turkey deserts-and her loyalty has been none too sure in the past the Allied supply route to southern Russia is en- dangered; the position in the Near East and North Africa is made precarious and greater burden in defeating Hitler is laid upon the Allies and the United States.