Evening star., 1941-04-23
Rest Of Allies at Thermopy|ae
GraveIy Peri|ed by Capitu|ation
Victory in Greece
Nearly Complete,
Germans Claim

BY tie Associated Press.
BERLIN, April 23.-Claiming
axis domination of all Greece
north of Thermopylae, a German
spokesman declared tonight that
"the conquest of all Greece is
practically effected"
Earlier, authorized sources de-
clared that the German Army had
crushed the British rearguard at
tabled Thermopylae and that at
least 100000 Greeks had surrendered
to axis forces in the Epirus and
Macedonian sectors.
The military spokesman called the
control of Northern Greece the "last
act" in the intensive military cam
paign.
British "Trying to Escape"
What remains of the Greek ac-
ton is the energetic pursuit of the
British, who are desperately trying
to escape" the military informant
said.
He asserted that British losses al
ready were approaching those of the
retreat from the Flanders plains at
Dunkerque, France, II months ago
Another Dunkerque situation is
in full swing" he said.
Germans estimated that $4,000
tons of British shipping had already
been sunk off harborS of Greece,
including transports carrying re-
treating troops, as the Germans
said.
Germany's Stukas, it was said.
had dive bombed many TO the
bottom.
In addition, they said that 81
ships had been extensively damaged,
many left in sinking condition.
Through Pass, Germans Say.
Nazi panzer units already have
passed through the historic gateway
of Thermopylae and are relentlessly
pursuing the retreating British in
the direction of Athens, authorized
sources declared.
A less expansive communique of
the high command, however, said
simply that moves in Greece were
proceeding according to plan" and
that forces advancing by way of
Lamia, further south, compelled
English rear guards to fight at his
toric Thermopylae Pass"
From l6 TO 18 divisions, consti-
tuting the best of the Greek Army,
were said to have thrown down
their arms in an unconditional
capitulation on the Epirus front.
Full Capitulation Expected.
The Germans, recalling that
Greece's Macedonian and Thracian
armies already had been polished
of, asserted that there was so little
left of the Greek fighting forces
that full capitulation rather than
an armistice probably will end the
campaign in Greece.
A dispatch reaching Berlin from
Adolf Hitler's headquarters said:
The Epirus and Macedonian
armies, encircled by German and
italian troops, unconditionally laid
down their arms"
Negotiations for the surrender of
the two armies were conducted at
Salonika, 1t was explained. CThe
German radio said that local capitu-
lation offers had been made by
Greek forces as much as three days
ago.
Every Harbor Watched.
Germans expressed confidence
that only small contingents of Brit
aims Grecian expeditionary force
would see home again.
Only the weather and God" they
added, could save the British from
annihilation.
Our scouts are watching every
bay and every harbor in Greece so
that our Stukas are likely to catch
whoever escapes our ceaselessly on
rushing land forces.
"Of course, if the weather becomes
so bad that visibility is very poor,
some ships may escape temporarily,
but we will get them later"
The high command communique,
rectifying previous statements of
these authorized quarters, said that
in Greek waters yesterday German
combat planes destroyed seven "en-
emy merchantmen totaling $1,000
(See BERLIN, Page A-4)