TITO’S CAMPAIGN

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1944, Page 2

TITO’S CAMPAIGN

Gold and Ships Wanted ALLIES ASKED FOR AIR FORCE, (Rec. 10.0) NEW YORK, May 20. Marshal Tito in a special interview which was banned by the censorship, but has now been released, claimed that Germans helped by local traitors, destroyed one-twelfth of the Slav population of Yugoslavia. Written answers were given by Tito in an interview. Among these were the following: The Yuogslav Liberation Committee. wants. but does not demand, its formal recognition by Britain, America and Russia. It wants to ’net control of the Yugoslav National Bank’s gold, also of Yugoslav warships seized, by Italy and recaptured by the Allies, and of the merchantmen being administered by King Peter’s Government. Tito claimed that one hundred thousand of the National Liberation soldiers have been killed in the last three years. He stated his partisans hold 130,000 square kilometres of liberated territory, containing over five million people. The Allies could help most effectively by equipping his army of liberation with arms, enabling thdm to fight on equal terms against a much stronger enemy. He said: “We need, firstly, tanks, and anti-aircraft guns; and secondly, an air force of our own, capable of carrying out our special tactical tasks. Allied air forces’ activity over Yugoslavia has already helped,, us considerably. General Mikhaflovitch has only sixteen thousand men. Our army of liberation exceeded 250,000 last November. Since then more divisions have been added.” N.Z. MAJOR MEDICO IN YUGOSLAVIA (Rec. 10.45) LONDON, May 20. A Reuter correspondent in a report from Yugoslav mountains, says: A New Zealand Major, from the R.A.M.C.. with a Scots orderly sergeant, .and fifteen Yugoslav women, run an Allied hospital for partisans in wild mountains. There are two cabins hidden in a pine forest, holding 150 beds. A third cabin is soon being built. German planes have been vainly trying to pin-point the hospital. They are aware of its existence from Chetnik spies, but it is invisible from 50 yards away. The major said the first problem was hot water for operations. He was afraid to light fires, except at dawn, when flames and smoke cannot be seen. A second difficulty is food, for which the hospital must rely on local farms. The major in the wards went from bed to bed, talking to the wounded in his own brand of breezy Yugoslav. It was obvious that all worship him. Every face lit up when he entered.