CAB80-8 — Page 97

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(h)

The limited Allied forces available now would be better employed at Salonika to support and encourage potential new Allies, than in direct support of Turkey. Turkey has asked for assistance only in equipment, not for Allied troops.

(n)

The small British forces available would be better employed in Western Anatolia or Thrace to afford moral support to Turkey and to cover our vital interests in the Middle East.

h) The French view as to the value of an Allied force at salonika has been strengthen- ed by recent co.versations with the Greek and Yugo-Slav General Staffs.

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3. Defensive line to be held

(1)

Germany would be forced to disperse her air attack by having to deal with Salonika as well as Thrace.

(a)

Minimum line; 20 km.radius from Salonika 155 km. long. Object to protect Salonika from long-range artillery. Forces required 10 divs. plus 3 in reserve.

(b) Maximum line; 70 km. radius from Salonika 325 km. long reaching Gulf of Salonika

at Vistritsa.

www

25 divs.

if

Forces required whole line held (11 divs. if main approaches only held.) (c) Intermediate lines; These vary from 40 to 50 kms. from Salonika and require some 15 divs.

(i) Agreed.

The British General Staff have not yet had an opport- unity of examining these proposals, but the British Representatives on the A.M.C. consider: -

(a) The minimum line is too

close to Salonika in view of the scale of air attack which could be directed against the concentration of troops and material in the vicinity of Salonika. (b) The maximum line should be continued west from the Vardar to the Albanian frontier, if possible.

The British General Staff estimate that a minimum of 20 to 24 divs. would be required to hold the line advocated by them.

+ Sent separately to the British War Office.

73

A tracing show- ing the French proposed lines has been

obtained

•

+

(b) The French Hign Command is prepared, on the assumption that Italy remains neutral, to accept line of defence proposed by the British. Line follows approx- imately the Greek frontier from Lake Prespa on the Albanian border to Lake Doiran, and then follows the lower course of the Struma.It coin- cides with the French

maximum".

--3-

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