THE GERMAN ATTACK

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23300, 9 April 1941, Page 7

THE GERMAN ATTACK

Gains Said To Be Insignificant

THRUSTS AGAINST JUGOSLAVIA

(Received April 8, 9.40 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, April 7. The Germans have not captured a single strategic point in Jugoslavia, according to advices received ip Switzerland. The Germans continue to declare that the terrain precludes a “blitz” success. The Ankara radio said that the Jugoslavs have already had considerable successes in north Albania, and added that German troops are now in contact with the main Greek positions in the Struma valley and the Nevrokop sector, .30 miles east of the Struma. Two German tank attacks in these sectors were repulsed with heavy German losses.

An uncomfirmed report from Athens says the Jugoslavs have penetrated Bulgarian territory near Tornizza, capturing several tanks and prisoners. It is said that the Jugoslav advance in Albania is meeting very small resistance.

Jugoslav Consulates throughout Turkey have ordered all Jugoslavs of military age to report within 24 hours. They will be sent to Greece by ship. Swiss reports say that the German Army is attacking Jugoslavia at four points; (1) toward Ljubljana and Zagreb; (2) toward Belgrade from Subotlca; (3) toward Nish, from Bulgaria; (4) toward Skoplje. The Swiss radio stated to-day that the Germans had not taken a single strategic position at the end of the second day of fighting on the entire Jugoslav Greek front, which extends for 750 miles,

The Germans to-night said they were advancing on the Serbian-Greek fronts after sharp attacks which overcame fortified positions. The Greeks admitted heavy attacks, but declared that the Gormans had not succeeded in breaking the Greek defences, Italian Claims According to the Italian Stefani News Agency. Italian aeroplanes inflicted hard blows" on British motorised units in Greece. The agency also claimed that the Italians had broken a Greek attempt to join Jugoslav forces. It said the attempt resulted in two days of bitter fighting, in which the Italians virtually wiped out a Greek division comprising three regiments. Whatever the truth of this report, one of the main Axis aims is obviously to break contact between Jugoslavia and Greece, and the Germans, according to reliable Turkish sources, are making their principal drive against the Jugoslavs through a subsidiary valley west of the Struma to Skoplje. The Berlin radio claimed that the Germans seized a strategically, important river bridge and prevented the Jugoslavs from blowing it up. The Athens radio says that in spite of heavy attacks and the dropping of parachute troops by the Germans, the Greeks are straightening their line in the Struma Valley. British bombers arc supporting the Greeks. The line is being defended with a determination unique in history. The Germans are using hundreds of aeroplanes and tanks, with heavy and light .artillery. German parachutists are being dropped, but are quickly being rounded up. The Greek resistance, the radio adds, seems to be surprising the Germans. As well as straightening their line the Greeks are even counter-attacking. Six German aeroplanes were shot down in the Struma Valley in flames, according to a Greek communique/.' The Greek radio' says that German parachutists were dropped at various points in Macedonia and Thrace on Sunday. The Germans also dropped leaflets addressing the Greeks as comrades, and professing friendship for the Greek people, whom they wished to spare the horrors of war. Some parachutists were captured, A German communique claimed , that strong air formations are supporting the army on the south-eastern front, where there is fierce fighting. Other formations repeatedly attacked Belgrade with devastating effect, particularly the central railway station. In addition, aerodromes in central and southern Jugoslavia were attacked. An Italian communique states: "Italian air squadrons successfully attacked aerial, naval, and military objectives in Greecp and Jugoslavia. The enemy bombed Scutari, causing insignificant damage." Greek Towns Bombed

The Greek Ministry of Home Security, in a communique, states: “The Germans bombed and machinegunned various towns and villages, killing six persons and injuring nine. Only slight damage was caused.” The Berlin radio is preparing the Germans for difficulties in Jugoslavia, where communications are poor, railways are few, and the roads are unsuitable for heavy motor vehicles. It stated that the Germans are facing in the Balkans a battlefield very different from the Western Front—a battlefield offering many advantages to the defenders with mountain passes as scarce as oases in the desert. The Serbs are fighting tenaciously and they are not particular in their choice of war methods. The Rome correspondent of the British United Press states that Italy and Germany are closing down all communications with the outside between 8 p,m. and 7 a.m. as a military measure. : , Hungary has joined Germany and Italy in closing external communications during the night.

CABINET LEAVES BELGRADE

BRITISH MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT

LONDON, April 7,

It was announced by the Ankara radio that the Jugoslav Government has left Belgrade for an unknown destlmftion. The Berlin radio says the destination is Vranesh. . Only very meagre direct information has been received direct from Belgrade in official quarters in London durfhg the last 24 hours. This is readily explained by the probability that the British Minister to Jugoslavia may have withdrawn from the capital. He and his staff will move with the Government. A Vichy message says that Frances representative in Jugoslavia has been instructed to follow the Government. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) received the Jugoslav Minister this morning, greeting him as the representative of Britain’s new ally. He handed him the text of a message sent by the King to the Jugoslav Government. The British Government, in a message to the Jugoslav Government, says: “This savage outrage committed by Germany against Jugoslavia is without the slightest provocation and the valiant resistance of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes ranges the British Empire upon the side of the Southern Slavs. We welcome them as a resolute and powerful ally. We renew the comradeship which in the Great War carried ns through tribulation to victory, . , "We will conduct the war in common and will make peace only when right has been vindicated and law and justice are again enthroned." The Greek Minister in Berlin Is expected to leave for Athens to-night, A Reuter message states that Sweden will look after German interests in Athens, and the Argentine will watch Greek interests in Germany. Switzerland will act for Jugoslavia m Germany, and for Germany in Jugoslavia,