Evening star., 1941-04-27
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Turkey Next?

Turkey Next?
German occupation of LemnoS
Samothrace and possibly other Greek
islands in the Northern Aegean Sea
near the entrance TO the DardanelleS
raises acutely the question of Tur-
keys attitude toward the Reich These
islands seem to have been captured
by German troops in small craft from
the nearby Greek mainland now in
German hands. But, in addition,
press dispatches from ConStantinople
intimate that several freighters from
German-occupied Black Sea ports
recently slipped through the straits,
and these vessels presumably carried
war supplies or even troops.
The Germans are thus already in
a position to command the ap-
proaches to the straits. And, unless
the British are able to stop them, it
is more than likely that the Germans
will work farther southwark in the
Aegean, occupying still other islands
which dot that inclosed sea. Many
of these islands are close to the
shores of Asia Minor, thereby block
ing access to Smyrna and other
Turkish ports. Just south of those
Greek islands lies the archipelago of
the Italian DodecaneSe, still uncon-
quered by the British and repeatedly
reinforced by German planes and
soldiers flown in by air. Should these
maneuvers prove successful. Turkey
will find itself encircled on its whole
western sea frontage. besides being
directly menaced by land with Ger
man armies drawn up in Bulgaria
and in Greek Thrace, almost within
sight of the DardanelleS.
These moves are undoubtedly pre-
liminarieS to a diplomatic pressure
drive slated to begin when the Ger
man Ambassador. Won Papen, re-
turns to Ankara. the Turkish capital,
from lengthy conferences with his
superiors. including Hitler himself
The aim will surely be to draw Tur-
kew into the axis orbit and prepare
the wav for the peaceful transit of
German troops across Asia Minor for
attacks on Palestine. the Suez Canal
and Irak with its vital oil fields.
Can Turkey withstand the pres
sure? The Turkish Army is made up
of good fighting material and prob
ably numbers 100000 first-line troops.
But it's equipment probably is no
better than was that of the Yugo-
slavs, and the speedy obliteration OF
that army, numbering more than
100000, by the German war ma
chine must have had a diScouraglng
effect upon Turkish military calcu-
lations. Also, German occupation OF
the Greek islands just off the Turkish
coast, plus the threat from the Dode-
canese. would necessitate a consid-
erable diversion of Turkish troops to
repel possible Italo-G German landings
in Asia Minor at many points.
1t is unlikely that Britain can give
the Turks much aid, either equip
ment or soldiers, since the British
seem to have their hands full else
where. Furthermore, the attitude OF
Russia is not encouraging to Ankara.
Stain undoubtedly does not relish
German progress in the Balkans and
the Near East. But he is less likely
than ever to risk a showdown with
the triumphant German war ma
chine by opposing the Reich, Indeed,
reported concentrations of Russian
troops on the TranScaucasian borders
give color to persistent rumorS that
Stain may soon occupy helpless
Persia, thereby fulfilling the Russian
dream of gaining access to the open
ocean which has haunted MuScovite
minds since that arch-imperialist,
Peter the Great.
Turkish statesmen undoubtedly
loathe the thought of capitulation to
German demands, realizing what it
would mean to their cherished indie
pendence. But they are stern real
lists and they are in tight spot. The
next few weeks will reveal, through
Turkeys decision, what are the un-
derlying realities of the Near Eastern
situation.