The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-16

necessary, could retire to e shorter, 75-mile line running from the Gulf of Larima to the Gulf of Arta, thus surrendering Larisa and attempting to hold e line north of Athens.
 German air force continued to hammer at Greek ports, seeking to break up British shipping supplies. Piraeus and Eleusls were the main objects of attack but German and Italian air attacks also were report cd against the Jugoslavs at Brazza. The Germans claimed to have dam aged or sunk nine British trans- port totaling 6o,000 tons at PiraeuS alone.
 Great Battle Rages
 A great battle is raging in Greece between British and German forces along the entire line held by em- pire troops, British general head- quarters for the Middle East said today
 "In Greece our troops now are in contact with the enemy along the whole of our front" said the an- nouncement issued by headuaqrters of Gen. Sir Archibald P. Wavell, British commander-in-chief in the Middle East. -
 Headquarters said that in the Tobruk area of Libya the situation was unchanged" but heavy fight ing was continuing in the Sollum area, on the Egypt-Libya border.
 "In the Sollum area vigorous ac- ton by our patrois again caused enemy losses in men and vehicles" the communique said. Some pris- oners also were taken"
 Headquarters said that in Ethi- opia, despite extensive damage to main roads by retreating Italians, British forces were advancing from the north mad south on Dessie, be- tween Addis Ababa and Adowa, and were making steady progress. South of the road linking Adds Ababa and Eritrca, British forces were in pursuit of fleeing Italians.
 The communique said that dur ing the past few days British Elm pire forces in Ethiopia have cap- tured 40 officers, 200 Italian sol- diers and 1900 native troops. These were in addition to the capture, announced yesterday, of Gen. Rug zero Santini and brigade conl- mander who surrendered with him.
 Smash at Italians
 The British Royal Air force smashed at German and Italian troops in Cyrenaica yesterday, dis rupted supply columns, blasted troop concentrations and shot down several planes, the RAF Middle East command said today.
 A communique said there was "constant air activity" over Cyren- aica resulting in damage and con- fusion among enemy transport con. centrations at Fl Adenl, Tobruk and Bardia.
 Airdromes at Danna, Menastir and Fl Adem were raided Monday might, the RAF said, and tents, buildings and two planes were de- stroyed in the attacks.
 The communique said that the air arm of the British Mediterrafl- can fleet raided Valona harbor, Al- bania, Monday, and destroyed two transport ships, presumably Italian.
 Jugoslav Collapse
 On the crumbling Jugoslav front, where Jugoslavs had been reported raIlying to menace the German rear lines, both London and Berlin agreed that organized resistance was near an end If not ended. The Ger mans reported capture and occupa- ton of Serajevo-scene of an as. sassination that started the World War and reportedly the last Jugo- slav capital-and the Rome high command said that Spalato, on the coast west of Serajevo, had fallen.
 NaA sources said that the where abouts of 17-year-old King Peter of Jugoslavia was uncertain and that 1t was not known whether there was any central command of the Jugoslav armies at present which could negotiate for surrender. The Germans obviously wanted the Jugoslav armies massed, If possible, for equalization in an effort to end resistance in the mountains.