GERMAN ONSLAUGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 April 1941, Page 5

GERMAN ONSLAUGHT

PENETRATION OF SOUTHERN YUGOSLAVIA Valiant Stand by Greeks in Struma Valley BRITISH TROOPS IN POSITION TO CHECK ENEMY FIGHTERS AND BOMBERS ATTACKING NAZI TRANSPORT The Yugoslav army has made a withdrawal in the face of German pressure in Southern Yugoslavia, where the Germans have pushed over the Bulgarian frontier into the extreme south of Yugoslavia. A Greek army communique states that the Yugoslav army fighting in Southern Serbia is withdrawing under pressure and has uncovered the left wing of the heroic Greek army. In spite of that the Greeks are fighting with great self-sacrifice and defending their native soil step by step. The Athens radio refers to the violence of the fighting and to the unsurpassed heroism of the Greeks. Heavy losses were inflicted on the Germans. In the Struma Valley the Greeks are standing' fast across the line of the- German advance on the right. The main weight of the German attack is being felt in the Rupel Pass. Here the attack was held up for 36 hours by a mere handful of Greeks, 150 strong, all of whom lost their lives after successfully accomplishing their mission, which enabled the Greek forces to take up new positions. Fighters and bombers of the R.A.F. are giving full assistance to the Greek and Yugoslav armies. A communique from British General Headquarters in Greece states that on Monday bombers attacked a big motorised transport assembly 20 miles inside the Yugoslav frontier, just north of the Greek border. At the Bulgarian end of the area a sharp attack was made on Petrich. German mechanised troops were bombed and machinegunned at various points towards the northern end of the Struma Valley. Another bombing raid was made on Sofia, where hits were seen on the railway junction and more destructive fires were started. In various parts of Bulgaria military concentrations were heavily attacked. It is reported that German troops have advanced to Skoplje, in Yugoslavia, 60 miles from the Bulgarian frontier and in the extreme south-west the advance is directed towards the valley of the Vardar Biver. An Istanbul report states that the Germans have occupied Alexandroupolis, on the Aegean, 12 miles west of the Turkish frontier. A Vichy report, which is unconfirmed, states that the damage to Belgrade by air raids is extensive. Several hundreds of people are reported to have been killed and important buildings are in flames. There is no report of the British land forces in Greece having been engaged yet. It is reported that they have taken over a line to effectively check the enemy advance from the north. The British Government has intimated that Hungary is regarded as territory under enemy occupation. AMERICAN ASSISTANCE President Roosevelt has cabled to King Peter of Yugoslavia giving an assurance of all possible material assistance and expressing, reports the 8.8. C., his most earnest hopes for successful resistance against this criminal assault on the independence and integrity of the country. The first shipments of war material were already being loaded at various ports of the United States. Arrangements have been made to utilise seven Yugoslav ships in United States waters.