AWAITING ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1940, Page 5

AWAITING ATTACK

STRONG FORCES MASSED IN GREECE

TROOPS VERY KEEN. ASSURANCE OF BRITISH SUPPORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) • LONDON. August 24. The Vodena correspondent of the "Daily Mail” says that half a million men stand to arms within a radius of a hundred miles of this town, awaiting an Italian attack. Long lines of lorries filled with troops in full war kit are on the move to Kastoria. This is a hot, wild and waterless country with mountains rising to 7500 feet to far the Italians’ way along most of the Albanian frontier. North-west Greece is almost impassable for motorised units or tanks. The only practical route would be via Monastir, in Yugoslavia. The Greek troops are very keen and very pro-British. Their morale has been enormously strengthened by the renewed assurances of Turkish and British support. An Athens message states that General Metaxas held conferences with the defence chiefs which resulted in a great increase in Greek preparedness. Wardens are watching the whole coast. Italian and British warships are both reported to be cruising off Crete at night. The Minister of the Interior has received a report from the Island of Cerigotto that Italian planes bombed British warships for two hours.

All Greek steamers in the interisland services remained in harbour last night. It is stated that sailings were cancelled to avoid the danger of being mistaken for enemy vessels. The Greek Government requisitioned 2500 tons of petrol, some of which was sent to the Albanian frontier. ITALIAN PROPAGANDA. It L reported from Rome that Italians and Albanians are whipping up an anti-Greek campaign. The Rome radio alleges that the Greeks are continuing to arm the Gendarmerie and other frontier inhabitants. The Albanian anti-Greek newspaper “Tomori” declares that Greece is planning the dissolution of her Albanian minorities. It says that the Greek authorities have hired robber bands to wipe out the populations of Albanian villages and alleges that the Greeks have virtually closed the frontier, there preventing food reaching the Albanian border districts, where the crops have failed, and are also isolating Albanians from their properties and businesses in Greece.

The publicist Signor Gayda reiterates that revision of the frontier between Greece and Albania cannot be long delayed. Italy’s claim on behalf of Albania is expected to be officially announced soon in the Albanian Parliament.

The situation created by the campaign in the Italian Press and wireless and the Italian-controlled Press in Albania which has been taken, the world over as foreshadowing or reflecting Italian demands upon Greece continues to claim the attention of diplomatic circles in London. FAMILIAR ROUTINE. There is, however, no knowledge in official quarters here of any demands by the Italian Government in Athens and the most sinister aspect of the present tension, apart from unconfirmed reports of Italian troop concentrations, is the character of the Press and wireless campaign let loose by the Italian Government. With its specious championship of Albanian rights, this campaign belongs to the familiar routine of totalitarian aggression. The Greek Government appears to be conducting itself with exemplary restraint and, apart from providing for the essential defence of Greek territory, nothing which might appear provocative has been done. So far as Britain is concerned there is sympathy with Greece in the crisis which she had no part in making. It has been made clear already that the British Government stands by its guarantee to afford Greece whatever assistance it can in the event of a threat to its independence which the Greek Government decided must be resisted.

NO FURTHER MOYE

ITALYS ATTEMPTED INTIMIDATION. GREECE STANDING FIRM. (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, August 25. There have been no further important developments between Italy and Greece, so far as is known in official circles in London. Unofficial but well-informed quarters are inclined to consider the absence of dicating that the main significance of new moves from the Italian side as inthe Italian Press and wireless attacks may have been intimidatory. It does not appear that the Greeks will easily be intimidated.