BRITISH AID

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1940, Page 5

BRITISH AID

REPORTED AIR FORCE OPERATIONS

SEA & LAND FIGHTING. GREEK NAVAL & AIR UNITS IN ACTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 1. British bombers, in addition'to reconnaissance planes in Greek and Italian waters, are reported to have joined in attacks against military objectives on the Albanian border. The Greek newspapers Widely publish reports of the attacks and declared that the British have established air and naval bases on Greek soil and have already engaged the Italians at sea. They also repeated an American broadcast that British troops, under the guns of the Royal Navy, landed on strategic islands around Greece. For military reasons details cannot be given.

Greek naval units heavily shelled Italian advance positions on the mainland opposite Corfu. No Italian warships or planes appeared.. The Rome newspaper, “11 Lavora Fascista,” says artillery trains have been placed at strategic points protecting the Italian coasts. Special surface craft will guide the fire from the trains. The latest Greek war communique confirms earlier reports of gallant resistance to the invaders. The Greek navy has joined the army and air force in harassing the enemy. The Greek air force has been active over enemy territory, bombing and machine-gunning positions. Enemy infantry attacks supported by tanks in the Epirus region have been repulsed. The Italians suffered losses, including some prisoners taken. It was claimed in Rome that two Italian columns had advanced from different directions on Janina, 30 miles inside the Greek frontier. Reports from Bulgaria, however, state that the Italians have nowhere penetrated more than nine miles and a half into Greece.

It is also reported that near the Bulgarian border two Italian companies fell into a Greek trap and suffered heavily. LEAFLETS IN EPIRUS ATTEMPTS TO CAJOLE GREEKS. ATHENS, November 1. Greek officers are going to Egypt to organise and train 15,000 Greeks, who are forming separate units. Thousands of Italian leaflets have fallen in the Epirus region urging the Greeks not to oppose the Italian forces and saying: “Have no fear, we shall respect your property and women.” • The Greek Premier, General Metaxas, sent a message of sympathy to the town of Patras. Greek bombers are bombing Italian aerodromes in Albania. All Greek newspapers are being reduced in size to two pages from tomorrow.