WEEKEND FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1940, Page 5

WEEKEND FIGHTING

GREEK RIGHT WING ADVANCED SEVERAL ATTACKS REPELLED. INCURSIONS INTO ALBANIA. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON November 4. Greek troops are everywhere holding their positions against Italian attacks and at some points have gained ground. There has been a naval action off Corfu. Greek’ newspapers welcome the landing of British troops in Crete, where the main British landing was made. Last night’s Greek communique covers the weekend, fighting. It says that the Greek right wing hhs advanced deeper and has captured new heights in the north-east, where the Italians have been trying to reach Florina. The Greeks drove the Italians back with hand grenades and at the bayonet point, causing considerable Italian losses and taking many prisoners. At the other end of the front on the Adriatic coast, an Italian attack supported by tanks was repulsed and nine tanks were destroyed. The Athens communique speaks of Italian air raids on 15 points on the front, most of these being on positions which the Greeks have taken in coun-ter-atacks. Italian aircraft again bombed Salonika. There were civilian casualties and some deaths. Some houses were destroyed, but no military objectives were damaged. Three. Italian planes were shot down by anti-aircraft fire and a fourth is believed to have crashed. The Italians also bombed several villages in the interior of the country. Reports from news agencies amplifying the fighting say that the main Greek advance into Albania appears to be toward Koritza, which is now threatened. Further north Greek troops crossed Lake Presba on the Albanian side and set fire to oil dumps in the village of P.ustek, returning safely. An Athens message this morning says that on the Adriatic coast sector Greek forces recaptured an important bridgehead over the Kalamas River. Neutral correspondents report that the Greek radio has announced that a heavy naval engagement took place oil the island of Corfu. One warship, believed to be Italian, was ablaze and was seen heading northward. The Berlin radio reports that 100 bombs were dropped on troops landing at Crete and that two transports were hit.