Evening star., 1941-04-20
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
EVVnT

Of the two basic factors of the
Balkan military situation which
have been emphasizing in recent
articles, one has now disappeared
There is no longer Yugoslav Army
in being. We should not, however
think of the Yugoslav resistance as
fruitlesS.
In the military sense, IL gained q
good deal of invaluable time, II
slowed down and hampered the
German attack on the Anglo-GreeE
forces, it compelled the Germans tC
employ very large forces and very
considerable amounts of munitions
and supplies which they would have
preferred not to expend. 1t has
given them a new and particularly
trying police problem.
In the moral sense, Yugoslavia' S
brave defiance gained still more; it
was an example and an inspiration
to all who are struggling against
the Hitlerian domination of the
world. Try as the Goebbels machine
will to point to the fall of Yugo-
slavia as an example of what must
happen to those who oppose the
onward march of German might,
the Yugoslavs have won their
spiritual victory, and in the end 1t
is the armory of the spirit which
will conquer the Nazi hordes.
Greek Campaign in Critical Phase.
OF the Greek campaign, it is pos
sible at this moment only to say
that it appears to be entering a
new and critical phase. The Ger
mans report the capture of Mount
Olympus, and that their troops
have entered Larisa, which lies in
the plain of TheSsaly. The British
and Greeks say their line has re-
tired, but is unbroken.
If both statements are true, then
the right of the Anglo Greek line
seems likely to have been drawn back
to the Othrys Mountains, south of
Volos and lying TO the northeast OF
the Gulf of Lamia; this would make
the new line run in general SOUTH
east-northwest direction, along the
eastern slope of the Pindus and with
its northwest pivot about Ioannina.
The next step might be retire
ment of the Greek left to shorten
the line and to ease the supply
problem
The Point to Be Remembered.
But all the above must be taken
with reserve, for 1t Is equally pos
sible that the German advance to
Larisa represents real break
through and that German armored
units, exploiting this break-through
in the direction of Trikkala and
Kalabaka, may succeed in cutting
off considerable portions of the
Allied forces. 1t is not certain
whether there remains intact a
sufficient British armored force for
counter measures against such Ger
man operations in the TheSsalian
plain.
The point to be kept in mind is
this: That as long as an orderly
retirement from position to position
is possible, without permitting a
break-through, the Anglo Greek po-
sition is reasonably satisfactory for
the time being even if ground be
lost; but a German break through
and encirclement of a great part
of the Anglo-Greek Army would be
Thus the second basic point OF
the Balkan campaign-the possibil-
ity of forming a stabilized front and
a British foothold on the
continent-remains in doubt.
In Africa the Situation Is Better.
In Africa, the situation is much
more favorable to the British than
it was a few days ago when the
possibility existed that Gen. Rom
mel's armored forces might charge
right through into Egypt.
The axis forces appear to be
stopped dead at Salum, under the
fire of the British fleet and ham,
mered by a British aviation which
the resources of their forward bases
does not permit them to equal; while
on their rear hangs the menace of
the fortress of Tobruk, strongly
garrisoned and open to reinforce
ment from the sea.
The British fleet, as previously
pointed out, has indeed proven the
moving piece in this puzzle, and