Evening star., 1941-04-13
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.

ELIOT.
We have as yet no definite as
surance on either of the two main
elements of the Balkan operations:
Cd Will the British and Greeks be
able to hold a stabilized front
against German attack? (2) Will the
Yugoslav Army be able to keep the
field and cooperate with their
allies?
But despite the early German
successes, won with their usual
reckless, headlong plunge for the
possession of key points, regardless
Of losses, we are beginning to see
little light on both these main
points. What we now know is en-
couraging on both scores. make
this statement with all reserve, be-
cause of lack of information. How
ever, at the moment this seems
to be the picture:
Cd British-G Greek front. The Ger
mans are developing two thrusts
directed, in converging directions,
toward Phlorina. One, coming by
way of Prilep and Bitolj. is striking
over the Monastir Pass; the other Is
coming west from Salonika. There
is hint of a third advance, pos
sibly only a holding attack, going
southwest from Salonika toward the
Mount Olympus region.
r. A. F. Attacks Effective.
The communications and re-
Inducements for the drives on
Phlorina lie we'll within the scope
of British aviation and have been
vigorously attacked from the air,
apparently with considerable sue
cess. In the Monastir Pass in
particular the r. A. F. seems to have
done well; here the road ascending
the pass from the Yugoslav side
makes three sharp hairpin turns
in succession-an almost ideal tar
get for airmen. A sharp raid by
British armored-car detachment
on the south side of the pass re-
suited. in the destruction of a unit
of the German truck-carried in
fantry which form the "exploita-
ton" element of their armored
forces.
All this suggests that the British
have developed an air strength in
this region which for some reason
the Germans have been unable to
counter, and in consequence the
force of the German drive has been
considerably reduced. 1t might even
be possible to draw the deduction
that though the first onset of the
German armored spearheads has
gone through on schedule. the Ger
mans are finding the follow-up, or
exploitation phase of their system.
does not work in the Balkan noun
tains with the same facility as in
France.
Nazis Encounter Difficulties.
Their inability to counter the
British air attacks may be due to
the British having sprung a sudden
local concentration on them by sur
prise, but is more likely due to the
German inability, because of time,
terrain, bad weather and local con-
ditions, to establish forward bases
for their aviation; also very likely
because of German overconfidence
in their ability to repeat in the
Balkans what they did in France,
Norway and Poland. So far. then,
there is no suggestion that the
Olympus line will not hold, and
there are some pretty strong hints
that the Germans are encounter
ing unexpected or at least very try
ing difficulties.
2. The Yugoslav Army. The
German radio reports hold more
than a suggestion of terroristic
propaganda in their efforts to por-
tray Yugoslav state already tot
tering to its fall, "slashed into sec
tions" and the like. There is moth
ing from any other source which
suggests that the Yugoslavs have
lost even one position-with the
possible exception of Bitolj-which
was included in their original final
defense zone: and from several
sources come reports that q strong
Yugoslav counter-attack toward
Bitolj and even Skoplje Is develop
ing.
Yugoslavs Still in Fight.
Northern Yugoslavia, including the
capital, was never supposed to be
strongly defended, except by local
organizations. The German thrusts
toward Belgrade, Ms and the upper
Save were all anticipated, and dis
counted. The German penetration
in the south seems to have been
deeper and swifter than was antic-
ipated, but there is increasing
evidence that the Yugoslavs still
have an army in being, and possess
sufficient supplies to keep going for
some little time; not, of course, in
definitely.
Meanwhile, the one Yugoslav Of
fensive move which was counted on,
the attack on the Italians In
Albania, shows signs of developing.
The Yugoslavs appear to have
crossed the Drin and taken San
Giovanni di Medua, one of the chief
Italian supply ports. An Istanhul
radio despatch, just in as these
words are written, reports the cap
ture of Durazzo by the Yugoslav
forces. If this is true the Italian
Army in Albania is on the verge
of destruction; just as If the Yugo-
slav thrust toward Bitolj and
Skoplje gains any success, the Ger
mans beyond the Monastir Pass are
washed up"
Not Yet Allied Disaster.
These are large ifs" based on
scanty and sometimes conflicting in