RANGE OF HEIGHTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1940, Page 5

RANGE OF HEIGHTS

IN ALBANIAN TERRITORY. OCCUPIED BY GREEKS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, November 4. A fresh Greek communique, issued at Athens, which represents the latest information available to military quarters in London, states: “On the Macedonian front, our forces succeeded in occupying on Saturday a new range of heights in Albanian territory. “On the Epirus front, there was artillery fire on both sides on Sunday. An enemy attack, supported by tanks, was repulsed. Nine tanks were destroyed. “Heavy enemy attacks in the Florina sector were repulsed with grenades and at the point of the bayonet. The enemy suffered losses and a number of prisoners were captured. Intense enemy air attacks were made on this front, with fifteen bombing raids, mostly on positions taken from the enemy. “Enemy planes bombed Salonika, causing a number of casualties, several of them fatal, among the civilian population. No military objectives were hit. Some houses were destroyed. The enemy lost four planes. Enemy aircraft also bombed several villages in the interior.”

CLAIMS EXCEEDED ACCORDING TO ATHENS CORRESPONDENTS. GREEK COUNTER-ATTACKS ALL ALONG LINE. LONDON, November 4. Correspondents in Athens claim that the Greek successes are beyond those officially reported in last night’s Greek communique. The picture built up by these correspondents is that Greek troops counter-attacked all along the line and have pushed deeply into Albania. In the engagement on the Epirus front in which nine Italian tanks were destroyed, it is stated that 20 took part. The remaining 11 which were not destroyed turned and fled. It is officially stated that two Italian battalions were routed in this area. The main Italian positions have-been pushed back north of the Kalamas River. The bridgehead taken by the Greeks was first forced by the Italians, who hoped thereby to push on to Janina. Today Greek newspapers publish photographs of an Italian plane brought down in Greece. It carried Greek markings. Many attacks have been made by the Italians in machines so disguised. OFFICIAL REPORT BRITISH TROOPS IN CRETE. (British Official Wireless.} (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, November 4. It is officially stated in London that some British troops have landed in Crete.