UNBROKEN LINE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 22 April 1941, Page 6

UNBROKEN LINE

ALLIES WITHDRAW TO NEW POSITIONS

ANZACS FIGHT WAY FROM LARISSA

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] (Rec. 1.25 p.m.) London, Apl. 21

Continuing the systematic and ably conducted withdrawal in Greece, Imperial forces evacuated Larissa and Trikkala according to 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 nearing completion. Our casualties are light. The British United Press Athens correspondent says the new shorter line which we are taking up stretches across mountain ranges. Big guns are already in position. A report that a large number of Anzacs are cut off is discounted in well-informed quarters, although it is pointed out that during the withdrawal it was possible for some advanced units to become separated from the main body. The epic of British, Australian and New Zealand troops who fought their way from Larissa through a ring of German tanks and tommy-guns was told to-day by the British United Press correspondent in Greece. Groups of Australians hiked for days and nights over snow-covered mountains and through gorges. Near Olympus, footsore and weary they fought on with melted snow for drinking water until they joined up with the New Zealanders, who had been fighting defending the sea coast pass eastward of Olympus. German tanks followed them and the Anzacs fought them off and then reached Larissa. The entire trek took over a week. Germans rushed up mechanised forces and surrounded the town with tanks. Some British and Imperial troops were still defending Larissa when German infantry entered. Our men gave battle, resulting in terrific street fighting, the Germans not only using tanks where they could, but infantry with tommy-guns lay in wait for our troops at street corners. All around them the town was burning, the result of repeated bombing from the air. The whole affair is one of the finest episodes of the war.

KING PETER AND MINISTERS

PLANE FLIGHT TO JERUSALEM (Rec. 1.35 p.m.) London, Apl. 21. The Ankara radio states that King Peter and General Simovitch, M. Jovanovitch and M. Nincitch arrived in Jerusalem from Athens via Alexandria by plane. Enemy planes attacked King Peters’ plane en route and killed a Minister whose name is undisclosed. M. Matchek has remained in Crotia.

GREEK ARMY

NEW POSITIONS TAKEN UP (Rec. 2 p.m.) London, Apl., 21. The Greek government spokesman announced to-night that the Greeks had taken up new positions under the most violent air attacks. GREEK HOSPITAL SHIP SUNK (Rec., 2 p.m.) London, Apl., 21. The Greek hospital ship Hesperos was sunk off Missolonghi.