STERN RESISTANCE TO AXIS BID

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20526, 9 April 1941, Page 7

STERN RESISTANCE TO AXIS BID

FIERCE FIGHT BY GREEK UNITS MORE PRISONERS ON ALBANIAN FRONT YUGOSLAV EFFORTS AGAINST ITALIANS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. April 9, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, April 8. A night communique issued in Athens states that powerful German attacks continued throughout the day, both m tie Struma Valley and on the heights of Ncvrokop, but the. small Greek forces again succeeded in holding the enemy m the districts concerned. Two Struma Valley forts, having resisted to the last, were destroyed and fell. . lwo othe forts successfully resisted a combined tank, air force and artillery attack.

“The enemv managed to penetrate a fort on the heights of Ncvrokop. but after a struggle in the underground passages all the German attackers were decimated and the toil finally remained in our hands,” adds the Athens mg it com munique. “Our artillery destroyed many enemy tanks. “An officer commanding a detachment which was ordered to destroy a bridge northward of. Ncvrokop waited until t ic enemy tanks began to cross and then blew up both the bridge and tanks. “Owing to military operations and in order to avoid unnecessary sacrifices western Thrace is being evacuated according to plan. “A strong offensive action on the Albanian front resulted in the occupation of enemy positions and the capture of •>(.) Italian prisoners and abundant equipment,” “Battalion of Death” The Exchange Telegraph’s Athens correspondent says that n special Greek unit was formed called. the “Battalion of Death” with the object of: covering the mam Greek forces as they fell back to prearranged positions. The battalion held the first enemy thrust, inflicting terrible losses. For 35 hours 100 men clung to one fort, even fighting in the underground galleries, after the Germans had occupied the main tort on the surface.

A further Greek Headquarters communique states that Yugoslav troops fighting in southern Serbia withdrew, uncovering the left flank of the Greek troops, who arc heroically combating the enemy on the frontier. The Greeks nevertheless continue to tight with great self-sacu ce, defending the Fatherland,” adds the Greek communique. It is revealed that the Yugoslav troops who withdrew did so under pressure. The Ankara correspondent of the Daily Express says that German forces arc reported to have reached the coast m west Tlrraee, leaving* the Cl reek frontier guards behind them. The Athens radio announced that British forces penetrated Bulgarian soil. Panzer Divisions Thrown Back The Greeks stood firm in the Ilupel Pass, throwing back panzer divisions. The Greeks also repulsed other thrusts further eastward. The Germans lost heavily in the first attacks on the GreekYimoslavinn lines, says the Ankara radio. Italy will be unable to save 10 per cent of her troops in Albania if the Jugoslavs and Greeks establish contact-. An unconfirmed report from Athens states that , the Yugoslavs penetrated Bulgarian territory neat lot'uzza, capturing several tanks and prisoners. The reports add tnat the Yugoslav advance in Albania is meeting with only the smallest resistance. Early Successes of Yugoslavs An Ankara message states the Yugoslavs arc reported to have occupied Finnic. Another report, from Ankara states that the Yugoslavs occupied Scutari and Zara. Advices received yesterday from Switzerland stated, that the Germans had not captured a single strategic point in Yugoslavia. The Germans continued to declare that the terrain precluded blitz success. The Ankara radio said yesterday that the Yugoslavs had already had considerable successes in Ihe north ol Albania. The Ankara radio added that German troops were in contact with the main Greek positions in the Struma Valley and the Ncvrokop sector. 30 miles east, of the Struma. Two German tank attacks in these sectors were repulsed with heavy German losses.

The Berlin radio claimed that the Bormans had seized a strategically important river bridge and prevented the Jugoslavs blowing it up.

A Swiss report stated that the Reichswehr was attacking Yugoslavia at four points, firstly toward Ljubljana _ and Zagreb; secondly, towards Belgrade from Subotica; thirdly, towards Nish from Bulgaria; and fourthly, towards Skoplje. The German news agency said yesterday that the whole of Yugoslavia’s transport communication system was disrupted.

The Rome radio claims that the Germans captured the Yugoslav town of Tekia opposite Orosova. ‘lhe capture ol Tckia,’’ adds the Rome radio, “indicates that the German advance from Rumania is in full progress and already has penetrated deeply from the Rumanian frontier. lekia was taken after violent fighting.”

According to diplomatic quarters the Germans occupied Alcxandroupolis, says the British l nited Press correspondent in Istanbul. Berlin reports claim that the Germans reached Skoplje.