Critical Battle In Northern Greece

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 91, 18 April 1941, Page 7

Critical Battle In Northern Greece

FIERCE NAZI DRIVE

Severe German Losses In Terrific Onslaught

11-iiiti-il l'iv«s A-«...-i it lii.ii.—C..|.yii.u'in.- Hid. i! ~.,,..' LONDON, April 1 7. Heavy forces of Stukas and tanks in successive waves attacked the Allied positions in Northern Greece in the critical battle, says the Athens correspondent of the Associated Press. The Germans, despite the heavy Allied fire, which is inflicting severe losses, continued their three-pronged attack with undiminished ferocity. The force of the German onslaught is made clear by the following official Greek comment on the communique cabled last night: "The Germans yesterday threw the whole weight of their military mechanism against the Greeks and their allies, upon whom they are exerting extreme pressure. The battle has been launched along the whole front from Mount Olympus to Koritza " says British Official Wireless.

• f German Pressure is heaviest at three main points the region of Grevena in the south, on the River Aliakmon. and in the west at Kontza. A German column operating in the Grevena area is trying to push forward towards Kalabaka in Thessaly. Another force from Kozhani is pushing south of Aliakmon while a third, wh.ch is advancing by Valacho and Klissura towards Kastona, is stated to have reached the old Greek-Albanian frontier. Ihe Germans are stubbornly opposed all along the line." A British communique issued at Cairo states that in Greece enemy pressure all along the British front is increasing.