NAZI LOSSES IN ATTACK

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

NAZI LOSSES IN ATTACK

“TERRIFIC SLAUGHTER IN VARDAR” INVADERS HAMMERED BY ROYAL AIR FORCE (Received April 11, 9 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, April 10. The Germans’ drive down the Vardar Valley was made at the cost of terrific slaughter, in which the Royal Air Force played a major part, says the "Daily Mail’s" correspondent with British General Headquarters in Greece British bombers and eight-gun fighters sprayed death along the valley roads as the German mechanised forces battled towards Salonika. A trail of blazing lorries crazily overturned, armoured cars and bodies mark the route of the advance. The Athens corresponded of the British United Press says that British bombers and fighters are on the job 24 hours a day. The roar of British engines is heard almost constantly as new big bomber formations arrive and fighters and bombers take off in regular relsys. Terrible punishment is inflicted with unerring accuracy as German mechanised forces pass through the narrow gorges. . , t, i The latest communique fro ™ WW, Air Force Headquarters in the Middle East says that in spite of extremely bad weather German troop-carrying motor vehicles were systematically machine-gunned in the Kilkis-Poly-castron area of north-eastern. Greece on Wednesday. Heavy casualties were inflicted. Successful bombing attacks were also made on enemy motor transport concentrations and bridges at Axloypolis, GAINS IN THREE DAYS German Successes BRITISH NEWSPAPER COMMENT (8.0. W.) RUGBY, April 10. There is still little authentic news from the new Balkan fronts. Summarising information disclosed by Mr Churchill and other later reports. “The Times” says: “The first onrush of German mechanised columns —true blitzkrieg—has proved once more overwhelming, in spite of the difficulties of the Balkan terrain. , _ “Salonika has fallen, northern Greece is cut in half, the Jugoslav communications are severed at Skoplje, and our allies in the west of the peninsula are isolated from their friends the Turks, The first three days of the campaign must have realised the highest hopes the enemy may have entertained.” ~ , “The Times,” like other commentators, notes Mr Churchill’s disclosure that British and Imperial troops have not yet been engaged. There is unanimous praise in the British press of the tone and temper of Mr Churchill’s review. The ‘News Chronicle” points out there is no note of depression, although Mr Churchill scrupulously emphasised every adverse factor in the situation. The "News Chronicle itself, after surveying these, including the first successes of Germany in the Balkans blitzkrieg, concludes that there Is no need to be down-hearted if a comparison be made with the situation last summer and what Britain has since achieved. “Let us remember,” it says, “that the fortunes of war swing backwards and forwards, that Hitler does not shout his own difficulties from the housetops, and that the power of the vast but uneasy Nazi empire can never equal the developed strength of America and Britain. That is the final guarantee of victory.” „ , ... The “Daily Express" makes the interesting point that a clash between German armoured troops and British, whether in the Balkans or North Africa, will be a preliminary test showing whether the struggle must be longer or will be shorter. “Once there is evolved an armoured division which can master a German armoured division the war is over, it says. From that it goes on to say that “if our armoured vehicles are not up to the work of beating those of the Germans, then the sooner we prove Jt in action and build others the better, R.A.F. Decorations for Navy.— The King has approved the making available of four coveted Royal Air Force flying decorations to personnel of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, The Distinguished Flying Cross, Distmeuished Flying Medal, Air Force Cross and Air Force Medal in future may be given to officers and men of the Fleet Air Arm. It is intended that the distinctions should be for flying personnel of the Fleet Air Arm who nave either been individually lent to the Royal Air Force or whose naval units are operating under the command of an air officer commander-in-chief Air Force personnel serving with‘the Fleet Air Arm are already eligible for certain naval decorations, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, and the Distinguished Service Medal.—Rugby, April 9. General Catroux Sentenced to Death —A court-martial sentenced to death General Catroux in his absence. General Catroux is the representative of General de Gaulle in the Middle East. —Vichy, April 10. Mr Menzies’s Tour.—The Australian Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies) is expected to arrive in Ottawa on April 23. Later he will visit Washington, spending three days there and one day in New York before flying to Australia—