GRAVE NEWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1941, Page 5

GRAVE NEWS

GIVEN BY MR CHURCHILL TO COMMONS Events in Yugoslavia and Greece R.A.F. TAKES HEAVY TOLL OF ADVANCING ENEMY BRITISH LAND FORCES NOT YET ENGAGED The occupation of Salonika by German forces was announced by the British Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) in the House of Commons, the 8.8. C. states. The R.A.F. is officially reported to have made heavy attacks on German tanks and motor transport pouring’ into Salonika and to have bombed roads in the vicinity. Terrible punishment is said to have been inflicted on the Germans on various parts of' the Bulgarian frontier.

The British land forces, said Mr Churchill, had not yet been engaged, but the'Greeks would find the soldiers of the British Empire standing in line with their own. The Germans are reported to be advancing on a wide front in Southern Yugoslavia towards the Albanian frontier. In Southern Serbia they claim to have captured 20,000 prisoners, including six generals. Yugoslavian troops are fighting desperately, north-west of Skoplje, to prevent the Germans from cutting the country in two. The Yugoslavs are reported to be pressing home their offensive against the Italians in Albania. The German High Command claims that most of the Greek portion of Thrace is in German occupation. Greek refugees, including soldiers, are pouring into Turkey. The Germans broke through the Metaxas Line after fierce fighting. The Turkish Foreign Minister states that the Turkish Government for the time being is maintaining a policy of non-bel-ligerency and will continue to keep a close watch on developments in the Balkans as they affect Turkey’s interests. Mr Churchill said it was never the intention or the policy of Britain to carry the war into the Balkans. Mr Eden and Sir John Dill, he said, went to Athens and Ankara to see what could be done to join a united defensive pact. Mr Eden was refused permission to visit Belgrade. If Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey had got together they could have had 60 or 70 divisions which might have deterred the Germans or in any case held them up for some time. Greece decided that she would at all costs defend her freedom and her native soil, even if wholly unsupported. Britain’s duty was clear, said Mr Churchill, and she was bound to give all the aid in her power. If Yugoslavia had made common cause with Greece, the Italian army in Albania would have been destroyed swiftly.