DEATH BEFORE SURRENDER

Evening Star, Issue 23861, 16 April 1941, Page 7

DEATH BEFORE SURRENDER

SPIRIT OF THE YUGOSLAV PEOPLE GENERAL SIMOVITGH'S APPEAL FOR AID LONDON, April 15. The high spirit of the troops and of' the Yugoslav people in the face of the violent German offensive is emphasised in the course of messages to ‘ The Times/ in which General Siraovitch declares:— “ Our people do not entertain the idea of surrender, and perfer honourable death to shame and capitulation. The spirit of our people is excellent, and they are resolved to fight bravelj'. “ I am deeply grateful for Mr Churchill’s promise of help. I know that the workers of Britain are working -24 hours a day in shifts to fulfil existing commitments in other fields; and that supplies are limited. I appeal to Great Britain. I also address myself to the United States, the great land of democracy which we have long respected and admired. 1 "appeal to our American friends to send us help at once. We have wonderful pilots, but we need machines. Mark my words! The Germans may rape this province or that, but we shall remain united. We shall fight to the end alongside our Allies for our freedom, for Balkan unity, and for a Europe of free peoples.” OLD SPIRIT STILL ALiyE. In a leading article, ‘The Times’ says General Simovitch’s message “ is proof that the old spirit, never so bright as in the days of adversity, is still alive in the Yugoslav nation. It has already been magnificently displayed in the exploit of a detachment which crossed the border into Albania at the outset of the campaign, and is now reported to have entered Durazzo after an astonishingly rapid drive. Here the Yugoslavs are engaged in a race against time, which must be admitted to be perilous, since the Germans are making every effort to hold out a hand to the shaky Italian forces in Albania, and may come in on the flank of the successful Yugoslav column. “ Yet there is no doubt that the moment is one for a bold decision and bold action, and if the Germans, who so far claim only to have made contact with the Italians down at Struga, on the shore of Lake Ochrida, can be held off a little longer, the Italians in Albania . may receive further heavy blows. “ It would be folly, after all we have seen in the past, to nnder-rate the violence of the German offensive against the Yugoslavs in their present positions, or that which will probably be launched at any moment aganst the new Greek and British line. But it is permissible to point out that in the south at all events the enemy is now meeting with resistance from the air of a quality which he has not previously experienced in land operations, though he learnt what it could be in the Battle of Britain. He is also engaged in one of the most difficult ventures which he has ever taken in hand. The present is dark, and the immediate future not bright, but the enemy has a great deal more to accomplish before he reaches the decision he is seeking.” HUNGARY'S EXCUSE REPLY TO RUSSIAN REPRIMAND LONDON, April 15. The Hungarian radio, replying to Russia’s reprimand for entering Yugoslavia, points out that when an independent Croatia was proclaimed on April 11 Yugoslavia ceased to exist, and it was therefore the Hungarian Government’s duty to protect the Hungarian minority and restore to Hungary territory torn from her after the last war.