GREEKS WELCOME MORE CONTINGENTS.

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

GREEKS WELCOME MORE CONTINGENTS.

IMPERIAL TROOPS

German Patrols Heavily

Repulsed.

United Press Association. — Copyright

(Reed, noon.)

ATHENS, April 14

The people are encouraged by the arrival of further contingents of British and Imperial forces.

The Germans continue to test the strength of the British lines. Many patrols have been repulsed with heavy losses.

Jugoslav morale continues good, and their forces are still counter-attacking north of Xisli. It is understood that 'he enemy has retaken Kragujevic.

The Budapest correspondent of '"The J imes," in an earlier message, says the ngoslav Army is in magnificent lighting fettle. The severance of communications has paralysed its striking power, however, as units that are separated are completely ignorant of what is happening elsewhere. German agents are busily spreading rumours.

Defenders' Difficulties. The correspondent adds thut the Yugoslavs laclc anti-tank and anti-air-craft guns and fighter aeroplanes. Bridges and other vital strategic positions have been left completely unguarded, while the civil population is compelled to watch German raids without opposition from their own fighters.

'] lie \ ugoslav Legation in Athens hao announced that Yugoslav troops have entered the Albanian port of Durazzo.

Gorman aeroplanes on Sunday raided Sarajevo. The official Herman news agency declared that bombers scored direct hits on large troop camps there and caused fires.

On the Albanian front onTy patrol action seems to have been undertaken in the past 24 hours, says a Greek communique, which merely states that there have been some restricted local actions, says British Official Wireless.

Some activity is reported, the Luftwaffe having sent three waves of bomber* over Yolo, where bombs were dropjied without causing any casualties. 1 liree of the attacking planes were brought down by anti-aircraft fire.

TURKEY VIGILANT.

FULL BRITISH UNDERSTANDING

l.ritish Official Wireless.

(Reed, noon.)

RUGBY, April 14

i lie Turkish attitude towards developments in the Balkans is fully appreciated in London. There is confirmation here of a statement by a member of the Turkish Parliament on Saturday that Turkey's continued policy of watching her frontiers with the greatest vigilance, of standing guardian over the gateway to the Black Sea, and of remaining absolutely loyal to the Britisli--1 urkish alliance, has the fullest approval of the British Government.

British subjects in Istanbul and many refugees from the Balkans have been advised to leave as quickly as possible, said an earlier cable message.

A curious situation has arisen in western Thrace, a narrow strip of which bordering Turkish territory has becomc a no man's land, says the Ankara correspondent of "The Times."

After the German invasion of western I brace the Greek authorities evacuated the strip, but the Germans, apparently not desirous of approaching the Turkish border, stopped short of it. The Greek Government then ordered its officials and gendarmes to return to their posts from Turkey, whence they had taken refuge.