IN THE MOUNTAINS

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

IN THE MOUNTAINS

BULK OF YUGOSLAV ARMY PERMANENT THREAT TO ENEMY’S FLANK •' LONDON. April IS. The great, bulk of the Yugoslav army, apparently intact, has retired to the mountains, to which it has easy access, and will be able to maintain defence, and whence it will constitute? a permanent threat to the invaders’ flanks. The situation in North Yugoslavia is obscure, but it, seems probable that the Yugoslavs have retired from the wide plains of Croatia, Slovenia, and Banat, and ate moving southward to the highland regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and approaching Serbia, where a strong defence can readily be maintained. IN THE SOUTH. The situation in South Yugoslavia has materially improved during the last 48 hours. Yugoslav detachments are repeatedly attacking from elevated positions, dislocating enemy communications and inflicting many casualties. The Germans are unable to use mechanised armoured units in this region, where the Serbian infantry is definitely superior to the Germans. The Yugoslavs have assumed a counteroffensive with great spirit, and at one point on either bank of the river Morava they forced the Germans to retreat. The main Yugoslav force is believed to be concentrating for an effective push southward with tho object of joining up with the British and Greek armies. Reports are persistent again tq-day that the Yugoslavs have occupied Durazzo. GERMANS RUSHING UP REINFORCEMENTS (By Radio.) LONDON, April 16. News from Yugoslavia is scarce, but the Ankara radio stated that the extent of the resistance by the Yugoslavs is shown by the fact that the Germans have increased their forces in the Balkans from 38 divisions to 60. Even this is proving insufficient, and further reinforcements arc being rushed through Hungary and Bulgaria. THE BANAT TERRITORY RUMANIAN RESTIVENESS LONDON, April 15. (Received April 16, at 8 a.m.) A Rome message says that the Bucharest correspondent of the Stefam Agency states that the Rumanian flag was hoisted in several districts in Yugoslav Banat, inhabited by a Rumanian minority. The agency adds that a delegation from the area arrived at Temesvar,.. in Rumania Banat, last night seeking the intervention of Rumanian troops. NAZIS’ FERVENT WISH WANT TO BE KEPT APART FROM ITALIANS ATHENS, April 15. (Received April 16, at 11.25 a.m.) German prisoners taken to a concentration camp all expressed a fervent wish to be kept apart from the Italians.