EVACUATION OF SALONIKA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23302, 12 April 1941, Page 9

EVACUATION OF SALONIKA

Supplies Carried Off By Greeks WAREHOUSES SET ON FIRE (Received April H, 8.30 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, April 11. The Athens correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that for a long time the Greeks were prepared to give up Salonika if they were hard pressed, and accordingly, after the war of nerves in the Balkans had begun, ships slipped quietly into Salonika at night and took off the most valuable food and other material. The correspondent, who left Salonika aboard the last ship, said that the Greeks dynamited everything of military value. Warehouse after warehouse was set on fire and the hangars and petrol stores at the airport went up in flames. The Athens correspondent of the British United Press, confirming that the Greeks contemola f ed only a token defence of western Thrace end eastern Macedonia, says that military and evil evacuation began early in March. Kavalla was evacuated in the first week. Banks and public services were evacuated from Demirhissar on March 10. Thousands of civilians left Thrace because of the daily reconnaissances of German aeroplanes. Tbh’tv thousand peonle left Salonika on March 10. The evacuation of hosnitals in Thrace and eastern Macedonia and (he chief military hospitals in Salonika was completed by the middle of March. Tankers called regulnr'v at Salonika and look off hi’ 1 ™ ouaniiiinq of octroi, T f is r n vealed (hat British and A"s- ---■ tralien f orces Have' 1 a bis part in the evacuation. They destroyed bridges and netrol dumps, working until the Germans were on the nnint of entering. One heavv British lorrv out out of action a German tank, charging it and overturning it. BELGRADE IN RUINS JUGOSLAV ACCOUNT OF BOMBING LONDON, April 9. “Unloosing a veritable deluge of incendiary and high-explosive bombs, German bombers converted Belgrade into a mass of ruins and covered the streets with bodies of children, women, and old men,” states a message from the Jugoslav Government to all civilised people. “Belgrade, which in good time was proclaimed an open, undefended city, was bombed by German aircraft on the morning of April 6 without a declaration of war and while the church bells were calling the faithful to church. “The attack eclipsed in horror anything imaginable. The Germans ignored most of the precepts of international rights and human consideration and destroyed all the hospitals, churches, schools, and cultural institutions, “Thirty bombs demolished the Royal Palace. “Dr. Koulenovic, leader of the Slovene people, was killed. “There were horrible scenes when women and children were machinegunned when fleeing from their burn-* ing homes. Thousands are homeless. “Never in history has such destruction been wrought by conquerors, and this from a nation which claims to occupy first place among the civilised countries of the world, "These horrors have not diminished the fighting qualities of the Jugoslavs, who will pour out their blood to light for their freedom.” A dispatch from Belgrade estimates that German raids on the Jugoslav capital killed several hundred and injured 3000. A Jugoslav High Command communique says that in the bombing attacks on Belgrade and other Jugoslav towns on Monday and Tuesday, the enemy lost “several dozen aeroplanes.” SOVIET POLICY IN BALKANS “SURPRISING MOVE EXPECTED” LONDON. April 0. The Ankara correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency says it is stated there that a further Soviet move of a surprising nature is expected in connexion with German aggression in the Balkans. In Washington, the British Ambassador (Lord Halifax), at a press conference, endorsed the recent statement by the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) that Russia was becoming aware of the danger from Germany. Lord Halifax added that he thought that Mr Hull had phrased the position rather aptly. The New York "Times” comments that Mr Hull and Lord Halifax apparently are attempting to bolster Russia's courage to a point where she will oppose Germany. [Last week Mr Hull described the Russian-Jugoslav pact of friendship as an encouraging indication that an increasing number of nations were acutely aware of the nature of the movement to conquer people by force. The “New York Times and other commentators said that Mr Hull thereby intended to indicate his belief that Russian policy was changing as a result of the German move in the Balkans.] JUGOSLAV-HUNGARIAN RELATIONS (Received April 11, 7 p.m.) LONDON, April 9. The Rome radio states that Hungary is breaking off diplomatic relations with Jugoslavia in view of repeated Jugoslav bombing of Hungarian territory. TURKISH PLAN FOR EVACUATION (Received April 11, 8 p.m.) ISTANBUL, April 10. The Governor of Istanbul announced that all desiring free evacuation to Anatolia should apply within five days. British War Casualties.— Replying to a question in the House of Commons yesterday, the Lord Privy Seal (Mr C. R. Attlee), stated that the approxi. mate number of casualties among the armed forces from the beginning ox the war to the present date was 37,607 killed or missing, and 25,805 wounded, Changsha Bombed.—A Domei News Agency broadcast picked up to-day said that naval aeroplanes had severely bombed Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, destroying numerous munitions storehouses.--New York, April 10. Ru'sian-Ncrwegian Trade.—The Berlin radio announced that a RussianNorwegian trade agreement had been signed in Moscow.—London, April u.