SHARPLY DIVIDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1943, Page 4

SHARPLY DIVIDED

YUGOSLAV PARTISANS & GOVERNMENT GENERAL MIK H AILOV ITCH DENOUNCED. GREAT BRITAIN’S REPORTED POSITION. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, December 23. British, New Zealand, French and Russian former prisoners of war are now fighting in Marshal Tito’s Liberation Army, states the Yugoslav National Liberation Movement in a pamphlet published in London by the Free Yugoslav Association. The pamphlet adds: “Mikhailovitch has no other guerilla army than the Qusiling Chetniks, who are not fighting against the enemy, but within the ranks of the Axis-com-manded militia against the true Yugoslav patriots. The contrast between the so-called Government in Cairo and the magnificent achievements of the nations of Yugoslavia shows in the sharpest form the unprecedented cleavage between the people and the Government in exile.” Authoritative circles in London state that Britain’s position regarding the Yugoslav situation is that, while recognising King Peter and his Government as the lawful Government of Yugoslavia, Britain wants to help Marshal Tito in his fight against the Germans.

GOVERNMENT REPLY

TALK OF BRAZEN IMPOSTORS. ATTACK ON THE MONARCHY. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.10 0.m.) LONDON, December 23. A Yugoslav Government spokesman in Cairo, replying to the Free Yugoslav broadcast, said: “We cannot spend time answering impostors who so brazenly attack our monarchy and legal Government. Let Marshal Tito establish his own Government if he wishes, although it must be pointed out that the Germans recently captured his headquarters and therefore he no longer has any home. No one, let alone Tito’s Partisans, can prevent us continuing to do our duty in the eyes of our nation and Allies. We shall fight as.in the past, inspired by the King.