Mikhailovitch Holds Hand Until Allies Land

Northern Advocate, 5 October 1943, Page 3

Mikhailovitch Holds Hand Until Allies Land

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 4. General Mikhailovitch has admitted that patrisans are the only forces fighting the Germans in Yugoslavia, says “Reynold's News". Partisan forces (People’s Army of Liberation) under General Tito have been fighting heavy battles against the Germans. They occupy large stretches of the Adriatic coast and have penetrated into north-east Italy and Austria.

“My army has not fought and will not fight until we get orders,” says General Mikhailovitch. “I am ready to begin when the Allies give the promised signal. It would be unnecessary spilling of 'blood to start fighting alone without real Allied help, munitions and materials.” “1 have told the British and Americans that my army will begin fighting when the first Allied divisions land ip Yugoslavia. What we shall then accomplish, will completely overshadow partisan performances.” A Yugsolav communique states: “Units of the first Bosnian corps, after 63 hours of violent fighting, have captured the biggest and best fortified town in eastern Bosnia, Tusla, 80 miles east-north-east of Sarajevo. A large quantity of war material was captured. Units of the Fifth Corps, in Sandjek, have captured Bialopikje. Slovenian partisans repulsed all German attacks along Ljubljana-Goriaia line.”