Evening star., 1941-04-07

In Northern Yugoslavia, north
west of the Croat capital of zagreb,
DNB said, the Luftwaffe also de-
stroyed an important rail junction
with direct hits on switches and
tracks.
AS for reaction to the Russian
Yugoslav (f1ve-year friendship and
non-aggression) pact, authorized
sources said they had been so busy
with Southeastern European events
they had not found time to ask
higher-ups for an official opinion.
Aim at Serbs First.
In authorized quarters it YVES
again emphasized that the Croat
people are regarded as friendly by
Germany, but, since the Yugoslav
government had put Serbian troops
in Croatia, these would have to be
struck down first, before liberation
of the Croats begins.
For the present, these sources were
unable to say how the obligations of
the tri-partite pact affected Hungary
and Rumania as result of the Yugo-
slav-Greek developments.
Authorized sources said yesterday
that refugees from YugoSlavia, on
arrival in former Austria, had tele-
graphed Adolf Hitler for help against
''unbearable Serbian tyranny" Rep
resentatives of Croats in South
America were said also to have wired
the Fuehrer for aid in the "eStab-
lishment of free and independent
Croatia"
Tells of First Skirmishes.
First reports to reach Berlin from
the YugoSlav front came from an
army reporter, who said he wit
messed the first skirmishes German
shock troops had with Yugoslavs
in bunkers on the heights flanking
the Muir River early yesterday morn
ing.
THE storm broke loose in blitz
fashion, the reporter stated, adding
that the advancing German columns
found the border barricaded with
barbed wire at some points.
He said the German shock troops
along this part of the border re-
celved salvoS of machine-gun fire
from we'll camouflaged bunkers.
These guns, he said, were put out
of action quickly by German artil-
lery.
Dawn Press Conference.
The worlds first word that Ger
many found herself at war with
Yugoslavia and Greece came early
yesterday, when foreign correspond
entS were routed out of bed for a
dawn press conference and Propa-
ganda Minister Paul Joseph Goeb-
bels broadcast an appeal to the
German people" by Reichsfuehrer
Hitler.
THE German people since this
morning find themselves at war with
the usurpers of Belgrade" he read,
"and at war with those formations
which Great Britain is attempting
to send forward against Europe's
peace from the Balkans"
Hitler. in an order of the day to
his troops, commanded them among
other things to be humane where
the opponent meets you with hu-
maneness, but where he shows bru-
tality break him harShly and ruth
lessly"
Foreign Minister Joachim Won
Ribbentrop informed the foreign
correspondents of the reasons for
Germany's action.
Greek Envoy Given Note.
The Greek Minister, he said, had
been handed note advising that
"the Reich's government now has
given orders to its troops to chase
British fighting forces from Greek
soiP and every resistance to the
German Army will be ruthlessly
broken"
The blow which Germany is
compelled to strike on Greek soil,
the note said, lis directed against
England The Reichs government
is convinced of rendering a decisive
service to the Greek people and
European community by quickly
driving the British intruder out"
No note was sent to Yugoslavia
but German declaration relative
to that kingdom set forth that, de-
spite Yugoslavia having sided with
Britain, the Fuehrer had tried tc
win her over.
Yugoslavia, it said, even had been
promised IAN outlet to the Aegean
Sea, Yugoslav sovereignty
over the city and harbor of Salon
ika," beside having her integrity
guaranteed and being exempted
from a military contribution of any
sort to the axis partners.
Yugoslav Minister Ivo Andric and
his staff left by special train from
the Anhalter Station today at 10
am. His destination was not dis
closed.
Vienna Treaty Flouted.
Despite the Vienna treaty (which
the overthrovn Belgrade govern
ment signed with the axis last
MONTH, the declaration added, ''un.
heard-of terrorism started against
all nationals of the axis powers and
their allies. Yugoslavia has
definitely decided to make common
cause with Germany's enemies.
THE Reich's government" it con-
cluded, 'is not willing any longer
to be passive onlooker at these
Vaccinations of a criminal clique
in Belgrade and to stand for Yugo-
slavia's becoming a rallying ground
such as Greece presently is for
British mercenary troops who are
strangers to the continent.
THE government, therefore, now
has given orders to German troops
with all the military instruments OF
power at the disposal of the Reich
to re-establish order and security in
this part of Europe, too"
nI ux IL