MIKHAILOYIC'S ARMY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24092, 30 October 1943, Page 5

MIKHAILOYIC'S ARMY

“RECENT ATTACK BY 8.8.C.” JUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT’S REPLY (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 29. The Jugoslav Government, in a statement issued in Cairo, states:' "Several times daily for the last two years the Free Jugoslav broadcasts have been attacking General Mikhailovic. TTie for a long time, has refrained from giving news of the activities of the Jugoslav army under General Mikhailovic, whom the 8.8.C. recently attacked. These attacks are based exclusively on Free Jugoslav radio propaganda. This propaganda accusing General Mikhailovic of collaborating with the Germans is one of the biggest scandals of the war.” The statement expresses regret at the unfortunate schism in the ranks of the Jugoslav combatants and quotes a series of telegrams from General Mikhailovic accusing “Communists” of treason in killing their own countrymen and flying the Red flag. The existence of wide and grave differences of opinion between the two main parties of patriots fighting in Jugoslavia—the partisans under the command “of a somewhat mysterious -individual known under the alias of Tito, and the Mikhailovic group—has been abundantly, clear for several months,” says “The Times” Cairo correspondent. “It is certain that the allegations by both sides are wildly exaggerated. There are elements of truth, but it is as false to declare that Mikhailovic is a collaborator with the Germans as it is to accuse the partisans of*being Communists. "It must be remembered that the leaders of both parties have not full authority over all the many little bands- fighting. It undoubtedly is true that there have been supporters of Mikhailovic who have collaborated with the Italians and Germans, just as some partisan groups are actively Communist. , , a “The Germans have inflamed these little fires to a blaze, which 'is injurious to the Allied cause and the future of Jugoslavia.”