HARD FIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1941, Page 5

HARD FIGHT

WAGED BY DEFENDERS GREEK OFFICIAL REPORT. SOME ENEMY CLAIMS. LONDON. April 7. A Greek headquarters communique states: “Powerful German forces equipped with the most modern war machines, and supported by tanks, abundant heavy artillery, and numerous aircraft, on the morning of April 6 repeatedly attacked our positions, which were defended by only small Greek forces. A violent struggle occurred throughout the day in the main zone of the Bulgarian frontier area, particularly in the district of Belen (about 50 miles east of the Struma Valley) and the Struma Valley. “Our forces here have waged a hard fight against the aggressors with their restricted means, and as much of the Greek air force as can be spared from Albania is aiding our efforts. Our fortifications, in spite of heavy shelling by artillery and dive-bombing, resisted, except one. which fell after a particularly strong enemy attack. The Germans are held on the whole of the main front. Our forces have evacuated some areas in Greek territory to avoid unnecessary sacrifice.” German troops were advancing everywhere in Yugoslavia and Greece after breaking weak enemy resistance, except in the Struma Valley, stated the Berlin news agency yesterday. The Italian news agency stated that successive waves of Italian planes attacked Split and Kotor, Yegoslavia, throughout the day, destroying harbour works and ships, and also attacked the aerodrome at Mostor. Berlin radio admitted that four German planes were lost in the day’s operations over Yugoslavia, but claimed that planes destroyed on the ground in Yugoslavia now totalled 48. The German news agency says that German refugees arriving on the Rumanian frontier from Yugoslavia report that all important Germans were taken from their beds in the early hours yesterday and arrested as hostages.

The German news agency states that the Luftwaffe attacked a communications centre north-west of Zagreb.