BLOW AT YUGOSLAVIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1941, Page 6

BLOW AT YUGOSLAVIA

NAZI & ITALIAN CLAIMS COMMUNICATIONS SEVERED. WITH GREEK AND BRITISH FORCES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 9. A German communique states: — “Motorised units and infantry divisions from Bulgaria entered Yugoslavia, pushed into the basin of Skoplje and crossed the Vardar, completing the separation of the Yugoslav troops from the Greek and British forces. Other units advanced across Doiran Lake into Greece. Alpine infantry, after fierce fighting, have broken through the Metaxas line."

An Italian communique claims that advanced troops on the Yugoslav-Ital-ian frontier have occupied Kranjskagora.

POSITION VAGUE LACK OF DEPENDABLE NEWS. TRIBUTES TO GREEK VALOUR. (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON. April 9. A lack of reliable news from the Balkans, especially about the positions of the British forces, is to be expected in the early stages of the campaign, although it has created some anxiety. There is no indication that British or Dominion troops have established contact with the enemy, slates a military observer. The present position, as far as it can be deduced, means that sheer weight of metal and air power have driven back brave troops who cannot be compared to Germany's in strength or modern equipment. A Berlin High Command communique states: “After we broke through the Rupel Pass, and following the capture of Salonika, the Greek Army eastwards of the Vardar laid down its arms. The Germans, after breaking the Metaxas Line, occupied Xanthe and reached the Aegean. Following on the capture of Skoplje, wc crossed

the Vardar River and took Tetovo and Prilep. Mechanised armoured detachments occupied Nish and Maribor.” It is authoritatively stated there were no British troops in the sector eastward of the Vardar River.

A Yugoslav General Headquarters communique states: “We were obliged to evacuate Skoplje, despite bitter resistance. Heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy from the air at the Kacanik Pass. In the Tsaribrod sector, our troops are stubbornly resisting enemy attacks. Our offensive in Albania ccAitinues energetically on all fronts. Yugoslav troops are advancing towards the interior of Albania. There were local battles on the northern front.

The Athens correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says the tiny Greek fort garrisons fought hard in the Struma Valley, costing the Germans hundreds of lives. Bodies were piled up before the barrage from Rupel and other forts, which the Gormans have been attacking since August 6.

The Exchange Agency's Ankara correspondent says it is stated here that a further Soviet move of a surprising nature is expected in connection with German aggression in the Balkans. The Rome radio states that Hungary is breaking off diplomatic relations: with Yugoslavia in view of the repeated Yugoslav bombing of Hungarian territory.