ARTILLERY DUEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 November 1940, Page 6

ARTILLERY DUEL

REPORTED IN GREEK COMMUNIQUE MOUNTAIN POSITIONS HELD AGAINST VIOLENT ENEMY EFFORTS. SUCCESSFUL AIR ATTACKS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 12.28 p.m.) RUGBY. November 3. According to agency messages received in London, a Greek communique, issued by headquarters regarding yesterday’s operations, states: “On ths Epirus and Western Macedonian fronts, there was a violent artillery duel. The positions occupied by our troops in Albanian territory, on the Florina sector, as announced in a previous communique, were maintained in spite of violent resistance by the enemy artillery and aviation. “Our planes successfully bombed the aerodromes at Korytza and Argyrocastro, destroying some aeroplanes on the ground. A fuel depot was set on fire. Fires could also be seen in aerodrome installations.

“Concentrations of enemy troops and batteries were bombed with success by our aviation. Four enemy bombers were shot down in air battles. Two of our aircraft have not rpturned to their base. “The enemy air force continued its attacks on the non-combatant population. Patras, the neighbourhood of Corfu. Janina and Canea. as well as other villages, large and small, were bombed. No military objective was attacked, but some houses were wrecked and there were some casualties, including deaths, among the civil population.” ITALIAN .CLAIMS (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, November 3. An Italian communique says the action begun in Epirus is developing satisfactorily. The Italian troops have overcome numerous defence lines which were well fortified and obstacled. The Air Force bombed military objectives at Corfu; also Patras, Larissa, Janina, Salonika and Canea. Two Italian planes have not returned. Italian torpedo-carrying planes attacked a large British naval formation off the Egyptian coast. One British warship , was hit. The communique casually concludes: “Two Italian submarines have not re- . turned to their bases.”

BOMBERS SHOT DOWN SLAUGHTER OF CIVILIANS AT SALONIKA. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, November 3. A Greek report says three Italian heavy bombers were shot down at Castoria today. Two hundred civilians, many of whom were children, were killed when twenty Italian bombers raided Salinika. Athens reports that the Government has received £20,000.000 from London. OPPORTNITY SEEN FOR COUNTER-ATTACK ON ITALIANS. BRITISH AIR ASSISTANCE URGED. (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, November 3.

“The Times” Balkans correspondent says the Greek Army, despite violent Italian counter-attacks, is steadily consolidating the gains won on November 1, when it captured the heights of Mprova Planina, dominating Korea, The most immediate need is that the Greeks’ daring push shall be exploited fully by our forces, because after the first week of war in this theatre it is abundantly clear that Mussolini has gi-. ven the British undreamed chances to strike back against Italy’s key bases. From the insistence of Greek communiques on violent artillery duels, it is clear that actions are now progressing on a wider scale, evidently along the whole front. If the Greeks pressed the counter-attack already resulting in the capture of the heights of Morova Planina, they would be able to drive south-westwards and attack the rear of the Italian forces striving to reach Janina, but if they are to press home their counter-attacks, it is essential that the Greeks should be able to break up Italian concentrations coming up for the defence of Korea and also for an attack on the Greek positions of Morova Planina. In such a breaking up, British air action could well assist.