Evening star., 1941-04-15
p, the Associated Press.

Adolf Hitler's blitZkrieg in
vaders have cracked the point
of the V-shaped Allied defense
line in Greece, captured the key
town of Phlorina in a drive from
Bitoli Pass. and forced the Brit
ish and Greeks to retire to a
deeper front in the center, 1t was
acknowledged in Athens today.
Hitler's high command reported
that Nazi troops occupied PtolemalS
and nearby Kozane. 40 miles south
of the Albanian-Yugoslav border
junction.
If true. this means that the Allies
suffered at least a 40-mile setback
before taking new stand
Near Ptolemais, 80 British ar
mored cars were reported destroyed.
Serb Encirclement Sped.
In Yugoslavia, the German high
command said axis troops were
speeding the pursuit and encircle-
ment" of remnants of the Serb
Army. which was said to be putting
up localized" resistance in the
Mostar- -Sarajevo sector.
On the right flank in Greece, the
British announced better success IN
stemming the Nazi onslaught.
British troops were said to have
hurled back a series of assaults by
German panzer columns, in the
Mount Olympus sector.
Athens dispatches said the Nazls
were advancing into the Aegean
kingdom on the left after occupy
ing Phlorina, the northernmost
hinge of the old Allied defense line,
and that the Greeks were battling
the Germans near Ptolemais.
Yugoslav Plea Rumored.
In Rome, Italian newspaper cir
cles received a Berlin report that
Yugoslavia had asked for an armi-
stice with the axis. Authorized mill
tary and diplomatic sources in Ber-
lin denied knowledge of any such
request.
Countering British claims of hav-
ing repulsed Nazi thrusts in the
Mount olympus sector, Hitler's
high command declared that Ger
man forces were pursuing the Brit
ish in retreat south of Salonika.
British rear guards were pictured
as attempting to slow the Nazi
steam roller "by extensive destruc-
ton"
The Germans said they had
crossed the Aliakmon River in the
Veria sector, 40 miles southwest of
Salonika.
Acknowledged Advance.
The Greek high command acknowl-
edged that the Germans were ad-
vancing in the center toward Kozane
and Siatista.
A Reuters. British news agency,
dispatch said the Germans were
moving also toward Klisura, AL
banian town near Tepeleni, on the
Greek western front.
The Greek high command said
Greek forces had withdrawn from
the Koritza sector. in Southeast AL
bania. and that the enemy discov-
cred the withdrawal "a hours after
1t began and sought in vain to
hinder it by pushing forward motor
cyclists"
Premier Mussolini's high COM
mand asserted the italian 9th Army,
after taking Koritza, was driving
on toward Greece through a gap
torn in the western half of the
Allied defense line.
Knin Occupation Reported.
The Fascist columns have occu-
pied the railway center of Knin,
about midway of the Adriatic coast,
and also have occupied the port of
Sibenik, southwest of Knin, the
Italians reported.
Authorized quarters in Berlin de-
elared the German high command,
through Luftwaffe observations, had
discovered undisputable proof that
the British were preparing a hasty
retreat from Greece.
"England's behavior is the most
shameful crime ever perpetrated on
an ally" the Nazis said.
The London radio, however, de-
elared that strong British REIN
foreements are now moving up to
front lines in Greece"