The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-03
TURKEY LEANS
 TOWARD BRITISH
CcOntinued from Page l)

we oAAAAG0 V 0SSh0A&s1on WAtAA ~ independent country now Bulgari Is only a German province"
 Turkey was controlling the Oar danelles more closely today.
 It was denied that the Dardanelle and Bosphorus had been mined Naval circles said that present coas tai defenseS provide ample protec ton against surface naval craft at1' submarine nets are ready for low ering at a moments notice.
 Turkey took the position that 1 she feels threatened she can clos the Dardanelles despite the Mon treux convention which governs us of the straits.
 In semi-ofacial quarters 1t wa taken for granted that German! will attack Greece as soon as Nag troops consolidate their position II Bulgaria unless Greece capitulateI under Nazi pressure.
 It was thought here that Greco would resist and that an attemp would be made to establish a iron along the 0reek-and possibly thu Tirkish-frontiers.
 According to the authoritative stateman's year book there art about l76, 1000 men in an annua class in Turkey, of whom about hal are passed for service. That woult mean Q total of more than 250, ,0o( men in three classes, but there va. no indication in the Ankara dis. patch of the actual number in' volved.)
 Awaits Na2i's Move.
 At the same time the government restricted the war time tricleie ol trafiic through the Dardanelles @! 1t awaited Germany's next move 1T Southeastern Europe.
 Turkish quarters asserted thai Germany's way was now open fol attacks on Greece or Turkey anc that such attacks were probably imminent.
 They suggested that Germany could choose its own time, however and might first complete Its occupa- ton of Bulgaria and make o las, attempt to force Greece to make peace with Italy and to draw Tur- key away from Great Britain.
 According to well informed diplo. matic sources, British Foreign Sec retary Anthony Eden during his visit to Turkey discussed principally the circumstances under which Turkey might permit Britain to use Turkish soil as a base for aerial as well as land operatsons, and the amount oi aerial and other armament Britain could supply Turkey.
 ,InformartS asserted, however, that there was no question of Turkey de- parting from the defensive strategy of staying behind Its own lines.
 It was disclosed that ships desiring to pass through the Dartiar1elles and the bosporus were now required to take on Turkish pilots, for whicl, there Is no charge. Previously the taking on of a Turkish pilot had been optional but Q service charge had been made.
 Traffic has continued through the strait but 1t was most slender due to war time conditions. Most ships which passed coSited Russian wheat for Greece. ,.
 Russia Is WaverinE
 Diplomatic sources reported that Russia, though not indifferent to the German march into Bulgaria, felt that 1t was not in position to act but was willing to improve relations with the United States and Britain.
 According to these sources, Rus. sia felt 1t was able to better rela- tons with America and Britain be. cause of a steady improvement in Its economic and military strength.
 Informants said that Russia would ask, in any negotiations, recognition of her aflnexations of territory for an economic agreement with Britain an da benevolent attitude toward Turkey. Tn certain circumstances, 1t was suggested, she might even aid Turkey in event that Turkey became involved in war with Germany.
 The visit to Ankara of Sir Staff ford Cripps, British ambassador to Russia, during the stay there of An. thony Eden, British foreign secre- tary, was held to have been of great Importance as regards Russia. Cripps left Ankara last night for lstanbul on his way back to Russia. Before he left he conferred first with the Russian ambassador, Sergei Vino. gradov, and Foreign Minister SukTu 
 Not only Turkish but German di- plomatic sources discounted Berlin reports that Eden had gone away dissatisfied with his negotiations at Ankara. It was agreed that Turkey and Britain were too firmly united for their position to be shaken now.
 Some sources suggested that Ger many hoped to cause Britain trou- ble in 1raq and in French Syria.
 Neutral sources said Britain had sufficient forces in Palestine to oc- cupy Syria but that 1t held off part. ly in the hope that the French Col. onial empire might yet swing to the British side of its own free will.
 Unconfirmed Rumors
 Ankara, March 3-(UP)-Uncon- firmed rumors circulated here today that Royal Air Force planes have at- lacked strategic objectives ir Bulga- ria.
 (The report was not confirmed from other quarters and appeared doubtful since the British minister Is still at Eofia).
 According to the reports which gained currency in the Turkish ca- pital, British bombers have attacked the Bulgarian Danube river point where Nazi troops have crossed from Rumania to Bulgaria on a pontoon bridge.
 Another report said that RAF planes also have attacked Varna, the Black Sea Port of Bulgaria which was reported occupied by the Ger mans Saturday.