Allied Forces On Greek Front

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 88, 15 April 1941, Page 7

Allied Forces On Greek Front

NAZI THRUSTS FAIL

Strong, Consolidated Line Of Mountain Strongholds

(United Tress Association.—Copyright.— Received 2 p.m.)

LONDON, April 1 4

The Germans attempts to break the Greek lines are being constantly and effectively repulsed, says the Greek Press Ministry British and Greek air squadrons are mercilessly and machine-gunning Germans at Monastir, where the enemy appears to be concentrating troops and supplies.

Failure of the Germans to break through on the first days and the continuous effective reinforcement of the Allied lines confirms the general conviction that a very strong frbnt is about to be consolidated from the Adriatic to the Gulf of Salonika The positions occupied by the Allies are natural mountainous strongholds and do not lend themselves to the tactics of mechanised blitz warfare.

All reports agree that the situation is highly satisfactory. The morale of the army is even better than at the time of the Italian aggression. British and Greek soldiers are impatiently awaiting the opportunity to get at the Germans.

No Major Action Has Yet Occurred. No major action has yet occurred between German and British forces, although Allied patrols have clashed at several points with German armoured scouts. British reinforcements are moving up to the front line, says the Athens correspondent of the British United Press. The Germans are believed to be still bringing up forces to strengthen their numbers, which at present are probably inferior to the British and Greeks. Snow and mud, in addition to ceaseless bombing, are hampering German movements. The highest Allied commanders are said to be optimistic that a German attempt to break through the Greek defence zone must pay the greatest price of any blitzkrieg so far. The Germans claim that only remnants of the Yugoslav Army are offering resistance at isolated points, but reports received in Greece suggest that the Yugoslavs reached the mountains in central and southern Serbia in force.

The Hungarian radio announced that the conquest of the former Hungarian territory is now complete. Bands of rebels have been trying to provoke disturbances, but the army is rapidly clearing up the whole occupied area.

The capture of Kortisa by Italians is announced by Rome radio, which also stated that British and Yugoslav planes again raided Sofia last night, causing a few casualties.