Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-25
Willy Greeks
Ou+smar+
20.
Fuehrer =
Refuse 10 Fall Into Trap
and Weaken Forces
BY PAUL MALLON

IA ASliliNO lOlN, NldTtn o.
" The pattern of Hitler's
purposes in the Balkans is be-
ginning TO oe visible through the
gaseous news from German con-
trolled areas. Clouds of con-
fusing propaganda can no longer
conceal the fact that der slick
TUenTeF-S Crafty game is work.
ing out only so per cent success
ful 50 far.
Hitler never wanted to fight
in the Balkans. He went in TO
rescue the fallen MuSs0fini. He
conceived a series of skillful
diplomatic and military moves,
which on the chess board,
seemed certain 10 relieve the
death-grip on his fallen mate.
He has succeeded in divert
ing General Wavells British
troops from humiliation of what
was left of Grazianis Italian
army in Africa probably half
of it
HtS thrust dOwn through Bul-
H garia required Wavell TO
withdraw to Mediterranean
ports and detach troops for
service in Greece and possibly
Turkey Get your map out to
follow the rest of this.)
But the other half of the
plan fell fiat. He hoped. by
threatening the unprotected
Greek right flank in Salonika,
to cause the Greeks to with
draw their best troops from
: pursuit Of the Italians in AL
bania. The sure-thing was de-
vised in the last meeting of
Hitler and MuSsolini some
weeks ago. Mussolini prepared
a last big drive in Albania to
take advantage of the weaken
ing of the Greek lines which
Hitler was to contrive for him.
The Greeks outslicked them.
They sent a few of their crack
troops out of Albania TO Salon
ika, but only a few. They took
the chance that Hitler was not
really preparing to fight at once
in Salonika.
When Mussolini fell upon their
supposedly weakened lines for an
easy victory. they LET him have
it-personally.
II Duce soon learned that
Greek power against him showed
no noticeable results from Ber-
Inns effort His drive failed. He
went back to Rome detected,
while Hitler warmed up this new
scheme N going in directly
through Yugoslavia to hold up
the collapsing Italians by the
trouSerS-personally.
When il all comes out. the
story of the Greek success will
make one of the most brilliant
exploits of the war. even if its
-tAtCl DlONtS lNililSOl al y
THE British are spoofing about
Il the number of troops they
have in Greece. 1t is 500 sea
miles from the nearest British
embarkation point in Africa 10
Greece.
With slow transports such. as
are being used in the Mediterra-
mean. the trip cannot be made in
much less than two days. Ma
terrell cannot be knocked down
and packed. 1t must be carried
set up for use. In this form it
requires considerable space.
If the British send $4,000
troops, they are planning to fight
only delaying action against
the Germans. IF they ever get
100000 on the job fthe number
they claim now TO have landed)
YOU will know they intend to
scrap.
IF YOGOSLANIA has really
L made any kind of an agree
ment with Hitler German troops
will soon be moving through that
country.
Don't trust contrary claims.
The Yugoslav government has
been trying TO save face with its
people by allowing German
equipment and hospital trains
free transit, but not Nazi sol
dierS. There is bound to be a
lot of small print or unwritten
understandings and the COM
plete sellslt will BE- in the APP
pendix as USUAL
Yugoslavia. however has room
for only Tour 3or five German
divisions al its mountainous
southern 'front.' q mere $4,000 10
5000 men Furthermore. tho
roads are not good for mocha
nized equipment
IF THE Turks see that the
Greeks and British have a
chance. they could contribute
enough defensively in Salonika
enable the Allies To put up
a fight With the Greeks on The
left of the line. the British in
tho center and Turks on the
right, Hitler'S army would have
a Job on lis hands
The British weakness Of a
long rear line of supplies back
across the Mediterranean TO
Africa would not appear lnsu-
r14oftft4Hfo Tlatr It'll hold all