GERMAN ATTACK IN BALKANS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23299, 8 April 1941, Page 7

GERMAN ATTACK IN BALKANS

Violent Fighting On Greek Border

JUGOSLAV BOMBERS’ ACTIVITIES (tTKJTSD FBE33 ASSOCIATION—COPTBIOHT.) (Received April 7, 11 p.m.) , LONDON, April 7. ' Communication with Belgrade is still interrupted and there is no news from official Jugoslav sources of the German campaign; but Rumanian and Bulgarian sources declare that Jugoslav aircraft have bombed Kustendii, near the* Bulgarian-Jugoslav frontier southwest of Sofia, and the Bulgarian capital itself. Towns in Rumania are also sau( to have been bombed. The Greeks claim to be holding the Germans on the whole of the main Bulgarian front. A Greek High Command communique issued last night speaks of violent fighting throughout the day in the main zone of the Bulgarian frontier area, particularly in the district of Beien, 30 miles north of Kavala, and in the Struma Valley.

“The German forces left bodies piled high before the Greek defenders without being able to advance,” said a Greek spokesman. “Our soldiers have written one of the greatest epics of Greek history. We are fighting forces tenfold superior with mechanical implements a hundredfold greater.

“German aeroplanes race overhead, but our soldiers are folding fast. Where it was expected that our troops would hold out for two hours we have not only already held out for 12 hours, but are maintaining unbroken lines. The enormous German forces met a terrible fire.”

The Germans have .made no specific claims of land advances, saying that in spite of difficult territory and strong enemy resistance their forces are advancing according to plan.

The Ankara radio says that the German drive against Jugoslavia aims at cutting the Jugoslav Army in two. The German forces comprise three divisions operating fpom tlie Rumanian-Jugoslav border against Belgrade, and two motorised divisions and infantry divisions operating from Szeged, in Hungary, also against Belgrade, while 12 to 16 divisions are concentrated on the Jugoslav-Austrian border to operate in the direction of Zagreb. The main German drive against Greece is through the Struma Valley, but another thrust is apparently being Carried out against Greece by way of the Jugoslav town of Nish.

The Greek High Command’s comjnunique states: “Powerful German forces, equipped with the most modern war machines supported by tanks, abundant heavy artillery and numerous aircraft, yesterday morning repeatedly attacked our which were defended only by very small , struggle occurred ) day in the main zone ' cf frontier area, particularly district of Belen, and - in the Strum Valley. Our forces here waged a hard light against the aggressors With their restricted means. “As much of the Greek Air Force as can be spared from Albania is aiding our efforts. “Our fortifications, in spite of heavy, shelling by artillery and dive-bombing resisted, except one, which fell after a particularly strong enemy attack. “The Germans were held on the whole of the main front. “Our forces have evacuated some areas of Greek territory to -avoid unnecessary sacrifice, ' "We destroyed/10 epcmy tanks and shot down five or SiS aeroplanes, and , took prisoners-” . , g . ~ Accordlngto an Ankara report, the Greeks have made a counter-attack and advanced on to Bulgarian soR at one point. , .. Belgrade was bombed three times yesterday. According to the Official German News Agency the second raid ; on Belgrade was a mass attack which 1 was extremely effeotjvd. Strong bomber formations . attacked military objectives in the city a number or extensive firps were added 'o those caused in the morning. which were still burning, . • . _ ’v A neutral military observer at Barne reported that 350 German aeroplanes participated In the morpmgis attack ° n Belgrade. • , . A Berl;n High Command oommumQue * says: “Bombers £nd t fighters attacked military objectives in Jugoslavia, particularly in Belgrade, which was raided thrice. The Belgrade railway station suffered particularly. Sev- ; cral Jugoslav aerodromes w.Cfe attacked with explosives and maphine-gun fire. .At the same time Italian aeroplanes ats tacked aerodromes In Herzegovina With great success. _ , “Crossing the Jugoslav and Greek frontiers. German troQPS everywhere during the day contacted the enemy- ln spite of difficult conditions and enemy resistance our trqpps are proceeding according to plan™ The official Italian news agency stated that successive waves of Italian aeroplanes attacked Split and Kotor throughout the day, destroying harbour works and ships. Ihey also attacked the aerodrome at Mostar, . .. The Berlin radio claims that a bridge of boats across the Danube built by the Jugoslavs «as blown up in an air raid. . - The firstlhdication that the people of Belgrade had that their country was at war was the wailing of air raid sirens at 3,30 a.m. Soon afterwards German aeroplanes were over the oity and the Belgrade radio went off the air. The Berlin radio also states that single Jugoslav bombers in daylight raided Arad, Tpmesvar and other towns, causing insignificant damage to private property. . . ■ The radio admitted that four Ger- , man aeroplanes were loaf ip the day s operations over Jugoslavia- but claimed that 48 aeroplanes were destroyed ° n the ground m Jugoslavia. According®-, a Berne • message, the Official' Q(2Ss*i News Agency states jkat the' fipSiSfciJe attacked a com- • municatiohs centre north-west ox • Zagreb. , , The Athens radio stated that the Luftwaffe attacked Salonika early yestprdiy morning. ' ■ ‘ Thp Hungarian official news agency ttate* that a Jugoslav bomber from the , prav» region flew over Hungarian ■ territory at noon going toward Buda- ; Pest; Anti-aircraft fire compelled Jim '• ;feroplane to turn back before reaching Jhe eipita}. Budapest had a 36-minute (Sir-rild alarm. - ,i Th§y Berlin radio said: “The cam- ® Will be no military promenade. Ugh hard, it will be won, The rWIMS machinations of Communist have won for the Balkans the , btle 'the powder keg of Europe- . $ jjp admits that the advance & js ■ .»!* with difficulties in the Struma All the resources of me Gerr|ff®“4fli)nou3 country and the climate. units have erected signposts *Si O MP e mountain road warning their ®bwped forces pf danger points. Gerare blasting rocks, using SgflfllUc drills, tc* open a passage Bt: the heaviest vehicles. MfLiilaimed that during, prePprade, a pontoon bridge built for

the transport of troops wag directly hit and destroyed. Other bombs destroyed bridge-building materials and stores. The’ Berlin radio, claims that -the Jugoslav Government has already announced its withdraw 3l from Belgrade. It was impossible to understand, the radio said, how Britain could have expected Germany to recognise Belgrade as an open .town with- its abundance of aerodromes; barracks and military objectives, " ’ - M . The Official German Agency says that German refugees-arriving,§t the Rumanian frontier from Jugoslavia report that all important Germfn? were taken from their heda In the early hours and arrested as hostages, j