THRUST BY GERMAN FORCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20527, 10 April 1941, Page 7

THRUST BY GERMAN FORCES

PORT OF SALONIKA EVACUATED VALIANT RESISTANCE BY VALLEY FORTS YUGOSLAVS TAKE TOLL OF INVADERS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. April 10, 9 a.in.) LONDON, April 9. German troops are reported to have entered the Greek seaport of Salonika following a break through the defenders’ lines on the Vardar Valley. Communications have thus been cut between the greater part of Greek territory and the forces in eastern Macedonia. > Parachute troops are reported to have been used in the German operations, but the Greeks claim to have captured manv of them.

While the importance of Salonika as a seaporl is not denied, it. is pointed but that its strategic importance is not great as it is readily open to attacks from the air. The Athens correspondent of the British United Press states that the British and Greek forces are falling back hastily before the smashing German drive down the Vardar Valley. The main Greek Army is abandoning Salonika and is withdrawing war materials from the town. The German forces operating against Yugoslavia are reported to have reached Skoplje, an important railway junction situated on the Vardar River. The Belgrade radio stated that the Yugoslav forces in repulsing attacks inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. i Over Million Invaders It is estimated that 30 German divisions totalling about 750,000 men, are operating- from Bulgaria in addition to divisions from Hungary and Rumania. Thus over 1,000,000 men were flung into the campaign against Yugoslavia and Greece.

The Budapest radio stated that the main German attack on Yugoslavia from Rumania centred in the Deta region to the north-west of Belgrade, where the Germans advanced in several Yugoslav districts.

The Athens radio to-night described the withdrawal of Yugoslav troops on the left flank of the Greek Macedonian army as an “unforeseen development.” The radio added: “The Yugoslav misfortune left the Greeks undaunted.” A Greek communique stated that a German mechanised division, after penetrating Yugoslav territory, reached the GVeek-Bulgarian frontier on Monday evening, and then occupied Doiran. After dawn on Tuesday this division penetrated Greece through the mountainous corridor eastward of the Vardar River.

Barrage Created by Forts

“'Our small mechanised formations slowed down the enemy for.many hours, but lie finally advanced dangerously in the direction of Salonika, cutting off communications between our forces in eastern Macedonia and the remainder of the country,” added the Greek communique. “Strong German pressure on the Struma front on Tuesday yielded no result. The forts in the Struma Valley, including Rupek and Usita. created a barrage through which the Germans were unable to pass. We mopped up parachute troops behind our lines, taking prisoner about 70.

“A violent struggle occurred on the Nevrokop phiteau, on which _ the enemy captured the Davtavil fort, which was immediately recaptured. The enemy’s heavy artillery violently bombarded the Lisse fort. Our units outside various torts recaptured a sector ot the trout which Ihe enemy had temporarily occupied.”

The Greek communique adds: “We captured a now position on the Albanian trout and took a number of prisoners.”