Violent Fighting In Northern Greece

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 92, 19 April 1941, Page 9

Violent Fighting In Northern Greece

ALLIED WITHDRAWAL TO SHORTER LINE

LONDON, April I§.

Violent fighting continues in northern Greece, where Greek and Imperial troops are withdrawing to new positions on a shorter line further back, and British and Australian troops have thrown back powerful infantry and tank attacks in the Mount Olympus sector. The latest news is that the fighting continues with great violence, and that Royal Air Force planes are continuously attacking the enemy communications. A statement from the Greek Press Ministry, quoted by the Athens radio, says that there is viov lent fighting along the whole front in northern Greece. British forces defending positions west of Mount Olympus have thrown back powerful, German infantry and tank attacks in fighting that is described as "particularly fierce and bloody." The Germans have flung ten' divisions against the Australians holding another pass south of Mount Olympus; but all the enemy attacks failed. Further west, strong German mechanised forces are battering the Greek position in the Kalabaka area, but the on- . coming tide has been stemmed.

The, Germans,\who are being reinforced every day, are putting increased pressure on the Allied front, but their advance is being made at very great cost. Authoritative quarters in London said today that though the situation was serious, the Germans had not succeeded in breaking through the Allied lines, which are still intact.

Messages from correspondents give $ome idea of the fury with which the Germans are throwing wave after wave of infantry and mechanised forces against the Allied line, regardless of casualties. Already it is estimated that the German invasion of Greece has cost them/50,000 dead and their troops are still being hurled back with what

a British United Press correspondent

calls mass slaughter. He added that , at least three German armoured divisions—Austrian alpine troops, and youthful Storm Troopers—have been thrown against the Allied lines with-

out regard for the consequences. British and Australian forces have inflicted enormous casualties on them.

The fiercest fighting now appears to .be taking place on both sides of Mount Olympus. The enemy are attempting to drive their forces around the mountaitrto Larissa. One attack comes from the town.of.Seryia on the western side •of Mount Olympus",: and the "other from ' Katerini. on the eastern side. Waves of German infantry have been attacking from dawn to dusk, and the ground is choked with their dead. Tanks which tried to break through have been blown Up with, land mines, and their crews caught by Bren gunfire when they tried m -.to. escape. , Even the Germans admit that their troops are suffering severe punishment^ and the German radio today quoted a German officer as to the deadly accuracy of the English fire, and the strength of the vigorous counter-attacks . by heavy British tanks. News from other sectors of the front shows that bitter fighting is continuing ■ right along*-the line. The latest Greek communique announces that Klisura, a few miles west of Tepeleni, and Ersek, on the frontier between Greece arid Albania, have both been evacuated •according to plan.