Hitler's Ex-Satellites
A situation favourable to the Allies is developing swiftly in the Balkans, accelerated by Bulgaria's submission, made ignominious by the twists and turns by which she attempted to evade the conse- quences of her consistently unscrupulous behaviour in the war. Her attempt to get lightly out of it by declaring her neutrality was quickly frustrated by the declaration of war by Russia, who thereby made herself a necessary party to armistice negotiations, and is in a posi- tion to take military measures on Bulgaria's territory which will safeguard her broad left flank in the Balkan operations. Bulgaria has climbed down completely. She has got rid of her pro-German regents (including Filov, the former Prime Minister), has declared war oq Germany, and made a gesture of restoring popular govern- ment, whatever that may mean in this hot-bed of agitators and intrigues. German ships in Bulgarian ports and German soldiers on Bulgarian territory are to. be handed over to Russia ; and it may be hoped that Russia wili insist that Bulgarian soldiers on Yugoslav or Greek soil will quickly be bundled back to their own country. They have made themselves hateful to the Yugoslav and Greek people. Russia meantime, having now signed the armistice with Rumania, whose leaders seem well satisfied with the moderate terms secured, is still advancing in the direction of Yugoslavia and Hun- gary and may soon meet the forces of General Tito. AU the German divisions in Greece and southern Yugoslavia are now in danger of being cut off, and already the main railway from Salonica to Nish and Belgrade has become for the most part unusable. Here, as else- where, Germany is paying the penalty for her rash expansion of forcible rule. All the divisions south of Nish may be cut off from Germany for ever, and the Russians will soon be threatening the plain of Hungary. Hitler's Balkan satellites are proving to be a liability. It is Russia which now holds them in the hollow of her hands.
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