Show j. J w. w T. T M MASON SON SAYS 1 Hitler's Grab Crab Doesn't Spell Victory By J J. J W AV T. T MASON United Press War ar Expert Much more difficult military problems for the Germans in inthe inthe inthe the immediate future than they have encountered in Yugoslavia are indicated by reports from Athens that the Greek army continues intact and most of the Greek forces in the valley valley valley val val- ley and eastern Greece have escaped Hitler's basic aim in southeastern Europe still is the subjugation of Greece to relieve the Italians in Albania but his quick thrust into does not yet mean he is well on his way to victory Contact with the main Anglo- Anglo Greek defenses has not yet been made The real battle still is to come and conditions to be met by the Germans in Greece must be expected to be different from Yugoslavia's disorganized military strategy The fact that the British expeditionary expeditionary expeditionary ex ex- ex- ex corps in Greece continues to delay going into action indicates coordination with the Greek army is proceeding proceeding proceeding pro pro- for a unified stand The main Greek defenses west of the and area cover a line far shorter than the long boundaries the Yugoslavs Yugoslavs Yugoslavs Yugo Yugo- slavs had to defend The Greek Anglo-Greek army is not only more compact but also is better equipped Although the situation has serious aspects for forthe forthe forthe the defending forces it also has many difficulties for the Ger Ger- mans The German troops that have moved through the valley valley val val- ley icy to must be strongly reinforced before they can at attempt attempt attempt at- at tempt an offensive westward into Greece Every days day's delay gives the Greeks and British more time to perfect their coordination coordination coordination coor coor- and familiarize the British with terrain new to them The Yugoslav army's present problem is to try to break the German hold on in southern Yugoslavia where fighting is reported to be proceeding proceeding proceeding pro pro- today If that can be bedone bedone bedone done a gateway will be formed for a Yugoslav movement southward along the Monastir pass into Greece Should any considerable number of Yugoslav troops succeed succeed succeed suc suc- in effecting touch with the Greek Anglo-Greek army on Greek soil it would probably be by this means It is improbable that the Germans have a strong force at because their movement across Yugoslavia has been too rapid through mountain obstacles but they are undoubtedly motorized and possess tanks and planes adding adding adding add add- ing to their power against the badly equipped Yugoslavs If the Yugoslavs are able to regain it will be an important victory The chances are against them however for forby forby forby by now the Germans must be receiving reinforcements Bucharest reports that Danube Danube Danube Dan Dan- ube river traffic has been stopped is a serious matter for transport of Balkan food oil and other material to Germany The river doubtless has been blocked by the Yugoslavs in inthe inthe inthe the narrow iron gate gorge at atthe atthe atthe the Rumanian boundary while at the same time the Yugoslavs may be hampering militarily river movements in their own territory |