Probable Line of German Strategy

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 84, 8 April 1941, Page 7

Probable Line of German Strategy

YUGOSLAV PLANES OVER HUNGARY AND RUr'-'-TIA Received Monday, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, April 7. The Ankara radio says the German drive against Yugoslavia aims to cut the Yugoslav army in two. The German forces comprise three divisions operating from the Rumanian-Yugoslav border against Belgrade and two motorised divisions and infantry divisions operating from Szegad also against Belgrade, while from 12 to 15 divisions are concentrated on the YugoslavAustrian border to operate in the direction of Zagreb. The main German drive against Greece was through the Struma valley, but another thrust was apparently being carried out against Greece by way of Nish. An Athens communique says: “Our fortifications resisted the Germans throughout the day except one which fell. We destroyed ten enemy tanks and shot down five or six planes and took prisoners.” The Italian News Agency stated that successive waves of Italian planes attacked Split and Kotor throughout the day, destroying harbour works and ships. They also attacked the aerodrome at Mostor. The Berlin radio states that single Yugoslav bombers in daylight raided Arad, Temesvar and other towns in Rumania. There was insignificant damage to private property. The radio admitted that lour German planes were lost in the day’s operations over Yugoslavia, but claimed that the total planes destroyed on the ground in Yugoslavia was now 48. The German News Agency says German refugees arriving at the Rumanian frontier from Yugoslavia report that all important Germans were taken from their beds in the early hours and arrested as hostages. The Hungarian Official News Agency states that a Yugoslav bomber from the Drave region iiew over Hungarian territory at noon going toward Budapest. Anti-aircraft fire compelled the plane to turn back before reaching the capital. Budapest had a 35-minute air-raid alarm. It is reported that strong contingents of Yugoslav troops are massed on the Hungarian frontier and reinforcements lire rapidly moving up the River Drave. Large numbers of bombers are concentrated in nearby airfields. A radio announcement heard in Berne stated that Rumania had ordered general mobilisation, it is also reported that the Rumanian Government has formally protested to Yugoslavia against attacks by Yugoslav aeroplanes. The German News Agency states that the Luftwaffe attacked a communications centre north-west of Zagreb.