London, Apr. 18. IN the face of increasing pressure by the German forces, which are being reinforced daily, the Greek and Imperial Forces on the Greek Northern front are gradually withdrawing to a shorter line of defence, it is announced in the Middle East communique.
The communique adds that the German advance in the area has been a costly one.
The Germans are said to have suffered mass slaughter as the Allied Forees hurled back wave after wave of German infantry surging ward in non-stop assaults from the heights of Mount Olympus.
It ig feared thatthe Greeks will have to evacuate Albania altogether because of the collapse of organized Yugoslav resistance, and no attempt being made to conceal the gravity of the situation, Despatches from Athens said that Jeast ten German divislons—about 120,000 troops—were slashing at the lied Lines supported by over 1.000 Warplanes. Australian, New Zealand and other British troops fighting in the Mount Olympus sector are reported to be under a terrific aerial Eombardment.
'The Athens radio, by not minimiz= ing the seriousness' of the situation, vas Urged the people to carry on a: usual and not believe extravagant German claims of successes they have not, achieved, "There Is a3 yet no confirmation of the German claim that the Yugoslav armed forces last night Inid down thelt arms unconditionally, and that their "enpitulation comes into force today, Tremendous Casualties the Greek press, ministry athens today' titer that tu throws the the whole of tele weight Sunil the allied frees, the Germane have hited romondour canis,
reported fo have "developed long htc faking of a {fei cond which lad southwards round" blount "Olmpuy—Servia the Weston side ano Katerina, the coastal region on the east. Operations here are said to have entered upon thei most serious stage, "AIL day and night, says Reuters) Special Correspondent at the front, Mount Olympus. resounds to the thunder of Nazi dive-bombers, 'They fy over in batches of 20, and some~ Umes 40, to unload their bombs, and rolurn for more, But the RAP, and British ground forces have MMleted terrify osses on them, and in the Servia area one British' Bren~ ann company alone yesterday shot flown ye German planes, 'A Fine Show Germans, Our shells go through the Nazi tanks like cheese, Numerically, however, they have the upper hand, snd are' advancing in. swarms, suD~ ported by motor-cycle infantry.
"This s the situation on the Fight of the" allied me. "News Srom other sectors confirms "that fighting heavier right along the line of the Heft. "A "Greek communique states that Kilssura. and Atdok have Been evacuated unhampered, Kussura is a few miles West of Tepslint, and Afdck Ison the Greek frontier in. Albania.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.