RETREAT FROM GREECE

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24401, 30 October 1944, Page 5

RETREAT FROM GREECE

HITLER’S DECISION GERMAN NEWS AGENCY REPORT (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 28. Hitler has decided on a complete German withdrawal from Greece, owing to the threat to the rear of the German forces in the Balkans. This decision is attributed by the Official German News Agency to the “betrayal” of Germany by Rumania and Bulgaria. It is officially stated at Allied Headquarters in the Mediterranean that the Germans who left Athens a fortnight ago are desperately attempting to join up with the forces at Salonika. If they accomplish this without considerable loss there will be a force of several thousand in northern Greece, but the position of both forces becomes more precarious daily. Allied bombers and partisans are cutting the overstrained railways and roads. If the partisans succeed in Cutting the escape routes considerable German forces will be cut off in the north. The Germans have alipost no prospect of saving their forces in Crete, estimated at 14,000, in Rhodes, estimated at 4000, and forces estimated at 5000 in'other Aegean islands. German aircraft based on Salonika are trying to rescue the trapped garrisons in the Dodecanese, but Allied aeroplanes hamper their efforts. . “Royal Air Force pilots reported on Saturday that Salonika was covered with smoke from demolitions, and jt was evident that the Germans were preparing to leave the city.” says a correspondent in Greece. “German evacuation trains have left Katerini on the way out. One pilot reported that nine trains were in Katerini stat'on and there were trains every few miles between Katerini and Salonika. Royal Air Force medium bombers operating from Greece are impeding the enemy’s evacuation. “When German mines exploded at Athens on Friday 25 persons were killed and 35 were injured,” says the British United Press correspondent at Athens. ' Shots rang out in the centre of the city during a patriotic parade in hbnour of Mr R. A. Eden and General. Sir Henry. Maitland Wilson. One member of the Greek forces was killed. His assailant is reported to have worn the uniform of a Greek Army major.