GERMAN DRIVE IN VARDAR

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23301, 10 April 1941, Page 7

GERMAN DRIVE IN VARDAR

Salonika Said To Be V In Danger MACEDONIAN ARMY CUT OFF (UNITED PBEBB ASSOCIATION—-COPTHISHT.) (Received April 9, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, April 9.

The Athens correspondent of the British United Press says that British and Greek forces are falling back hastily before a smashing German drive down the Vardar Valley from Jugoslavia. The main Greek army is abandoning Salonika and withdrawing war materials from the town. The Greek High Command, in a communique issued last night, said that a German mechanised diviadvancing towards Salonika through southern Serbia, had cut off communications between the Greek army in eastern Macedonia and the rest of the country.

The communique said: “A German mechanised division, after penetrating Jugoslav territory, reached the Greek - Bulgarian frontier last' night and then occupied Doiran. After dawn to-day, this division penetrated into Greece through the mountainous corridor east of the Vardar river. “Our small mechanised formations

slowed down the enemy for many hours, but he finally advanced dangerously in the direction of Salonika, cutting off communications between our forces in eastern Macedonia and the, remainder of the country. “Strong German pressure on the Struma front to-day yielded no result, pur forts in the Struma Valley, including those of Rupel and Usita, putting up a heavy barrage. A violent struggle occurred oh the Neyrokop plateau, on which the enemy captured Davtavil fort, Which was immediately recaptured. “The enemy’s heavy artillery violently bombarded Llsse fort. Our units outside various forts recaptured a sector of the front which the enemy had temporarily occupied.”

It is estimated that 30 German divisions of about 750,000 men are operating from Bulgaria, in addition to divisions from Hungary and Rumania. /Thus moifsKtll,ooo,ooo men are be,r ing flung into! the campaign against Jugoslavia and Greece. The Athens radio last night described the withdrawal of Jugoslav troops on the left flank of the Greek Macedonian Army as an "Unforeseen ■ development.” The radio added: "This Jugoslav misfortune has left the Greeks undaunted.”

■ There is no confirmation that the Jugoslavs have taken Scutari, in northern Albania, but the Ankara correspondent of the Columbia broadcasting system, who made the report originally, last night repeated the claim and declared that the Jugoslavs had pushed further south and taken Lesh, 25 miles from Scutari. The Budapest radio states that the main German attack from Rumania is centred on the Detta region, to the north-west of Belgrade. The Germans Had advanced into several Jugoslav districts.