Allies in New Defence Lines

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 96, 23 April 1941, Page 7

Allies in New Defence Lines

Anzacs Fight Magnificent Rearguard Action

Casualties Comparatively Light

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, April 21.

Continuing their systematic and ably-conducted withdrawal in Greece, the Imperial forces have evacuated Larissa and Trakkala, according to the latest information which has reached British Headquarters at Athens. The Germans are still unable to break the Allied line anywhere. Despite continuous bombing, the orderly withdrawal to new positions is Dearing completion. Our casualties are light. The Athens correspondent of the British United Press says that the new and shorter line which we are taking up stretches across mountain ranges. Big guns are already in position. The announcement that the withdrawal was nearing completion followed a communique from British General Headquarters in Cairo, which said that the Empire forces, in conformity with the movement of the Greeks fighting on their left, were now approaching their new defensive positions. This withdrawal, the communique added, had been covered by the Australians and New' Zealanders, whose delaying action had been brilliantly conducted, causing the enemy heavy casualties. In Cairo, although the position is regarded as serious, it is stated that the Germans failed in their main objective, which was to break through quickly, and that we have inflicted huge losses on the Germans.

Meanwhile, the small Greek army is defending its territory inch by inch, says a message from Athens. On the Italian front, the movements made necessary by the new situation were carried out yesterday with order and precision. The Greek troops, though harassed by air bombardment, took up their new positions according to plan. To-day’s German communique claims that the German troops continued the pursuit of the “beaten enemy” south of Larissa. The Italian communique refers to the Greeks’ tenacious resistance on the Albanian frontier and adds: “All localities along the lonian coast have been recaptured up to the Greek border.” SUCCESSFUL WITHDRAWAL COMPLETED ' A Greek night communique says: “The withdrawal of our forces to their new positions of resistance has succeeded fully.” Anzac Tradition Reaffirmed at its Highest WITHDRAWAL EFFECTED WITHOUT EXCESSIVE LOSS (British Official Wireless.) Received Tuesday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, April 21. In a leading article headed “A Fighting Retreat,” the Times says: “The withdrawal of the forces of the Empire which has just been carried out in Greece must have been extremely difficult and was made possible only by the sternest resolution—by Anzac tradition reaffirmed at its highest. Yet carried out it has been and apparently without excessive loss compared with that inflicted upon the enemy.” The Times proceeds: “There is evidence that over and over again our men had to rely on a light machinegun mounted on a truck to oppose the swoop of hostile aircraft. The German Command is out for a decision and it will hesitate at no sacrifice. Nor is there any reason to suppose the German troops will fail to respond to its driving even if the Austrian alpine units should be beginning to find the strain too great. “Whatever the outcome it seems certain that never yet has Hitler encountered either physically or morally resistance of the quality he now has to face.”