The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-03


 It was the troops from the Vidir and Lom areas who were driving ir mcchanized equipment down the Struma and Mesta valleys to posi- tons on the Greek frontier, taking the route past the Ratza and Sofa areas.
 The German troops who crossed the Danube at Rustchuk, the Bull garian river port for communication with RumaniG, were proceeding via Tirnovo and Plovdiv (Philippopol- is) whence they could strike quickly toward the Turkish frontier along the main Sofia -Istanbull railroad. Bulk of Germans
 Well informed sources intimated. however, that the bulk of the Ger. mans would be massed in the south- west as a threat to Greece and that they would remain well away from the Turkish frontier, hoping not to antagonize the Turks.
 An authoritative informant as- serted that on the basis of high Greek diplomatic sources, Greece had decided to fight to the end against all corners.
 It was reported that Hitler had given the Greeks a demand of ul- timative nature to make peace with Italy, calling 1t the last chance that would be given and indicating that the Germans would strike after two weeks If Greece insisted on fighting
 The German march into Bulgaria presumably to be ready to strike at the Greeks, was regarded as rernov- ing the reasons for Greek reluctance to accept the aid of a British ex. peditionary force to meet 6 German invasion. But in diplomatic guar. ters there was doubt whether thert was now time for Britain to move Q considerable force into Greece.
 George W. Rendel, the British, minister, conferred with King Boris for 90 minutes last night. He re- fused to make a statement and # was indicated that he thought it better to remain silent until he had reported to his government and rec ceived the German ambassador, Baron Herbert Won Richtofen.
 Parliament yesterday ratified Bull garia's adhesion to the German 1talian-Japanese Axis by acclama. tion--an exclamation In which the angry shouts of members of the op- position were drowned by those of the government majority.
 20 Members Protested
 Despite the protests of 20 mem- bers, mostly of the peasant party, the government insisted on forcing through the ratification with no debate. Opposition members intro. duced an interpellative motion, de- nouncing the German troop entry as dangerous historic step but they could not even get 1t read on the floor.
 The interpolation had sought to ask the government why 1t was necessary for Bulgaria to join the Axis, the means by which the gov. ernment "pretended" to preserve peace and neutrality, and the means by which peace would be main- tained with Bulgaria's neighbors Greece and Turkey and neutrality safeguarded as regards other pow CTS.
 Premier Bogdan FiloR rose to de- fend the governments action. He said the presence of German troops changed nothing in Bulgaria's pol icy of peace" and that Bulgaria re- mained loyal" to Its contracted en- gagements. He said that before per- mission was given for German troops to enter, he received from the German government a guaran- tee that law and order in the coun- try would be completely observed and that the interests of Bulgaria would be safeguarded." Bulgaria, he said, had joined the Axis pact due to the force of events which pro- duced a new situation around us in Europe" Germany, he said. ha5 acknowledged" the treaties O.. friendship between Bulgaria and its neighbors "as well as the declara- ton recently signed with our neigh bor, Turkey"