CAPITULATION IN SIGHT

Southland Times, Issue 24420, 28 April 1941, Page 5

CAPITULATION IN SIGHT

FIGHT AGAINST ODDS OF 10 TO 1 (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, April 26. Greek broadcasts tonight indicated that the people are being prepared for the country’s capitulation. The Athens announcer, after saying there was no war communique and no news from the front, added: “Greeks, join hands and shut Greece within you, and live with the glory of our Army. Greece will live again because she fought honestly for her rights and liberty.”

The Cairo correspondent of The Times says that British and Anzac troops celebrated Anzac Day with their backs to the sea and against odds at least 10 to 1. The German casualties are stated to exceed the entire total of the British Expeditionary Force. “We have destroyed more of their tanks than we sent to Greece,”' stated the correspondent. “German airmen only half-an-hour away are coming over the front line and villages with their machine-guns going full blast. They came in such numbers that one of our bomber squadrons was unable to load bombs throughout the day and the airmen devoted themselves to bringing down the Germans from the ground. “The Germans are also raiding the Mediterranean and bombing and machine-gunning every craft from fishing boats to steamers.” The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says that the advanced British units are reported to be displaying almost reckless bravery against the Germans and sacrificing their lives to assure the withdrawal of their comrades. The Anzacs are reported to be contesting every inch of the ground north-west of Athens. They counterattacked successfully on several occasions. The enemy pressure shows no signs of slackening.

The Athens correspondent of the Associated Press says it is reliably reported that a New Zealand antitank unit wrecked 23 German tanks and repelled a Panzer attack near Mount Oeta, west of Thermopylae. GERMAN CLAIMS A German communique says that alpine and mechanized troops, after overcoming the position at Thermopylae, de- | feated the British troops east of the pass near Molos and took prisoner several hundred men and captured 30 guns. Other German troops from Thessaly crossed to the island of Euboea and 'pressed forward from Chhlkis into the mainland. “Our troops passed through Thebes pursuing the enemy,” stated the communique. A message from Cairo states that an Englishman who escaped 24 hours after the Germans entered Salonika reveals that the invaders began to plunder the city an hour after their entry. Proclamations ordered the citizens to give up their gold, silver and jewels. Squads of soldiers visited their homes, seizing all ironware and brassware, including doorknobs and bedsteads.' Others gathered up park and garden railings. The Greek authorities had distributed food before the evacuation, but the Germans ordered that all food be surrendered, except enough for 24 hours

for each family. All wireless sets were confiscated. GERMANS OCCUPY LEMNOS LONDON, April 25. German forces landing from ships escorted by warships have occupied the Greek island of Lemnos, 60 miles from the Dardanelles. Lemnos was used _as a base by New Zealand troops during the Gallipoli campaign in 1914-15. It is announced in Athens that the Germans presented an ultimatum to the Prefect of Lemnos demanding his surrender by midnight on April 23. The , Prefect requested instructions from Athens and was ordered to do his duty as the honour of Greece demanded. At 5 a.m. today the Germans dise'mbarked troops under the protection of planes. The small garrison on the island, comprising police and infantry, resisted until after 9 a.m. The Greek Minister of the Interior (Colonel J. Dourentis) sent the following message to the Prefect: “Your battle has added another ( page to the national epic.” It is reported from Istanbul that the Germans have occupied Thasos and Skyros.