FIERCE ASSAULTS

Evening Star, Issue 23864, 19 April 1941, Page 9

FIERCE ASSAULTS

NEVER-ENDING NAZI WAVES ALLIES FACING WORST BLITZ IN HISTORY GREEKS REPORT IMPROVEMENT IN POSITION (British Official Wireless.) LONDON, April 18. (Received April 19, at noon.) The Imperial armies in Greece are facing the worst blitz in their history, but their line remains unbroken in the face of overwhelming odds. The most severe fighting of all is taking place at the entrance to Sarandaporan Pass, where two entire Germans divisions were destroyed. The great gaps, however, were at once filled with troops fresh from Yugoslavia. A report from Athens states that never-ending waves of German troops, using sub-machine guns, are advancing four abreast, several lines deep. They advance in such numbers that it is impossible for the Allied forces to fire fast enough The Allied troops have withdrawn to shorter lines, and while they are consolidating these other forces are holding off tremendous odds. The German attack is being carried out with the assistance of a neverending intensity of dive-bombing. There has been no slackening of continuous German bombing of the Allied lines. In the Sarandaporan Pass Australian troops are withstanding the onsalught of 10 divisions. The B.A.F. here is carrying out a merciless bombardment of enemy lines of communications and troops, destroying tanks, aircraft, and roads. Greek 6fficial quarters state that there has been an improvement in the position. The Gneco-British lines are still successfully held in the Grevena and Haliakraon sectors. Although the German troops are being continually reinforced, they have pot yet succeeded in obtaining their objectives. Strong enemy pressure is being brought to bear in the Kalabaka region, and here the Greeks are exerting every effort to hold the Germans The pressure is tremendous, and the Germans are employing hnndreds'of tanks. Despite the weight of the German attack, the Greek evacuation of Albania is being carried out calmly, and a/iew line is being formed running from the lonian Sea to the digean coast. Reports reaching Athens state that the town of Larissa is now completely flattened, and one British officer says that it resembles the town of Louvain in the last war. CAPITULATION OF YUGOSLAVIA GERMAN OCCUPATION OF COUNTRY LONDON, April 19. The complete capitulation of Yugoslavia is effective from noon to-day, according to German messages. This is not denied from aify Yugoslavian source, nor is it confirmed, but it must be admitted that all resistance there has apparently censed. The agreement signed permits of German occupation and control.