The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-14
A LAST ToE.HoLD


AS slim steel fingers of German
PanEer divisions reach towards its
throat, the Britisb-Greek force in
the Macedonian Mountains retreats
and reforms It's lines in prepare.
ton for q desperate struggle 10 hold
the Greek Peninsula proper last
toe-hold OF the Allies IN Europe.
Contact between British forces
and their Nazi foe is the final test
British troops in Greece are some
OF the empires best. There are tall.
determined Australians and New
Zealanders. sons OF the famous
Amaze shock troops OF the World
War. Also famous regiments from
the British Isles. Driving down
against them are crack German
tank divisions and motorized infsn.
try.
Probably the most important IN
answered question of the Balkan
War is the number and location Of
the British forces that are coop
Grating with the Greeks. Many re-
porters and correspondents have
hszarded guesses, but these have
varied so widely as 10 produce only
confusion.
Athens dispatches have limited
that the British contingent that
has been pouring through the Greek
ports into the mountains and val
leys OF the interior for two weeks
past numbers in the neighborhood
of 800, 900. Others have guessed
British numbers al only a third OF
this figure or even less.
From what is pretty we'll estab-
lished concerning the Imperial
Army OF the Nile, II would seem
that about 100000 is likely to be
The extreme upper limit Of troops
chat can have been sent. Reports
from Egypt during the long period
OF training OF General Wavells
troops pretty we'll agreed that the
army numbered only six divisions
OF troops organized and equipped
on standards necessary for modern
European warfare.
where in the neighborhood OF 200,-
600 native African and East Indian
troops. good al frontier warfare but
not equipped or trained 20 fight the
Nazis, and about two divisions of
tanks,
In view OF British Withdrawals in
North Africa and recent Italo-Ger-
man successes there II seems un.
questionable that General Wavell
has taken a good many of his front
line troops out OF Libya for sery-
ice In Greece. How many is a ques-
ton that may make history.
A hundred thousand first-hne
British troops IN Macedonia organ.
lied along the mountain-like line
stretching from Mt Olympus 10
Lake Ochrids in Albania might
make a stand that would set the
world 10 cheering. But If there are
fewer than that number. they are
likely TO face another Dunquerque
without Dunquerque's happy end.
ing.
iugoslavs, attacked from north
and east by at least six Nazi
armored columns. saw the time
honored blitzkrieg pattern OF quick
thrusts for strategic cities. Noun
tains and steep river valleys form
unfavorable country for blitzkrieg
war but the Nazi juggernaut thun-
dered on despite the difficulties OF
a country that Is mostly up and
down and where roads are almost
non-e1istent
The strategic Yugoslav Third
Army, under General lila Brasitch,
charged with the mission OF hold.
ing Skoplje and the main line Of
the Nugoslav National Railway.
fought valiantly in the Moraya and
Vardar valleys but German forces
have penetrated almost IN the Ital.
ians In Albania. practically cutting
Hugoslsvis in hall Meanwhile the
northern provinces OF the country
are forced TO welcome columns o.
Nazi invaders. Official German war
communiques claim that Yugosla-
Was possibilities for anything re-
sembling successful resistance are
at an end Whether the British
Army will be able 10 refute that
claim is question
-O-
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