YUGOSLAVIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 90, 17 April 1941, Page 6

YUGOSLAVIA.

The admission that unified and controlled resistance in Yugoslavia has practically ceased should make us realise afresh the thorough organisation which lies behind the striking-power of the German Army. Even though the political conditions in Yugoslavia had been such that the defenders must have been caught unprepared for the onslaught, the success of the Germans in so sliort a time, in face of the difficulties of the terrain, could hardly have been expected. Their onslaught seems to have been designed first and foremost to cut off "the Yugoslavs from the Greeks and their British supporters. That being accomplished, the northern regions of Yugoslavia can be subjugated at leisure. Probably it will be found that there remain regions in which resistance will not be easily quelled, and that part of the Yugoslav fprces which is believed to be still in possession of ports in the Adriatic may be able to secure supplies which will enable it to hold out for a considerable time. But the hope of forming a Yugoslav-Greek front- lias speedily disappeared. Again it has been proved that the events of the war of 1914-18 are a false guide for this Avar. That was first proved by the Germans in Poland, and there have been many demonstrations since. The explanation lies principally in the possession by the Germans of superior air power and in their utterly h ruthless use of it.