The Press SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1941. The New Front in Greece

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23302, 12 April 1941, Page 8

The Press SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1941. The New Front in Greece

The military situation in Greece following the capture of Salonika by German forces appears to be that Greek and Imperial forces (the latter have not yet been in action) are holding a front somewhat less than 150 miles long extending from Mount Olympus, south-west of Salonika, to Lake Ochrida, near the conjunction of the Greek, Jugoslav, and Albanian frontiers. Geographically, the new front is a strong one, since it runs through high mountain country for almost its whole length. Its weakness is on the left flank, where it meets the Greek front in Albania almost at right angles. Some 25 miles from the meeting of the three frontiers lies the Monastir Pass, which provides easily the best route into north-western Greece. If German forces operating from Jugoslavia force this pass and turn the left flank of the new Allied front, the Greek position in Albania will become untenable. The chances of this happening depend partly on the situation in southern Jugoslavia, concerning which there is very little news, much of it conflicting. Normally, some of the best units in the Jugoslav army are stationed in this area, but if it is true that Skoplje is in German hands the prospects of a determined Jugoslav defence of the Monastir Pass are not bright. The loss of the whole of the Greek coast from Salonika to the Turkish border is a severe blow. That western Thrace, with the second-rate ports of Kavalla and Alexandroiipolis, would have to be abandoned was apparent as soon as Turkey indicated that she would not enter the war at this stage. The position of Salonika was hopeless as soon as German forces succeeded in crossing from the Struma into the Vardar. Any force deployed in the country immediately surrounding the town would almost certainly have been cut off. The most hopeful feature of the situation is that the British and Greek commands have grasped its realities immediately and have not allowed considerations of prestige to interfere with a sound strategic disposition of their fOrCeS.