The Press WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1941. News from the Balkans

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23300, 9 April 1941, Page 6

The Press WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1941. News from the Balkans

Since the beginning of the German offensive against Jugoslavia and Greece three days ago so little news has come out of the Balkans that it is impossible to form any clear idea of the general military situation. Even before German troops had crossed the Jugoslav frontier, German bombers had begun a series cf mass attacks on Belgrade, which a week ago was declared an open town and which German communiques refer to as “ the fortress of “ Belgrade,” The first attack put the Belgrade wireless station out of action and this, possibly combined with the cutting of telegraph lines by parachute troops and fifth columnists, left Jugoslavia isolated from the world until yesterday. It has also, according to Turkish reports, compelled the Jugoslav Government to transfer itself to the interior of the country. Technically, the German bombing attacks on Belgrade were a breach of international law, since the city has no defend industries and is not being defended. It cannot be argued, however, that the bombing was purposeless brutality, involving no military gain. To disrupt internal and external communications is clearly a mihtary gain of the utmost importance. Before the war in the Balkans is much older, however, the German High Command may regret the precedent it has established. On the day following the bombing of Belgrade, British bombers began attacking railway installations in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, thereby striking at the weakest point of German military organisation in the Balkans. Bulgaria has bad roads and less than 2000 miles of railway track; and the two main railway systems, upon which Germany is heavily dependent, converge on Sofia. Aerial attacks on this junction are thus 'the equivalent to attacks on the marshalling yards at Hamm. The other significant item in the Balkan news is the announcement that Greek advance units are withdrawing from the exposed plain of western Thrace. This is a logical move if it can be assumed, as presumably it must now be assumed, that Turkey does not intend to enter the war at this stage. Nevertheless, a German drive through western Thrace to the Aegean, separating Greece from Turkey, is a development which will arouse some misgivings.