BRITISH HELP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 November 1940, Page 5

BRITISH HELP

BOMBERS PLASTER ITALIAN PORTS EASES FOR THE t BALKAN CAMPAIGN. ENEMY RAIDER OVER PIRAEUS PUT TO FLIGHT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 4. Additional news of British assistance to Greece was given today when it was reported in Athens that Vickers Wellington bombers plastered the important ports of Bari and Brindisi, on the “heel” of Italy, where men and munitions were massed. Santo Quaranti, the principal transhipment port for the Epirus and Macedonian fronts, was also bombed. Machines of the Bomber Command have raided Naples for the second time in a few days. It is reported from' Athens that a single Italian plane, flying over Piraeus this afternoon, dropped a bomb in a working-class district, but disappeared when it sighted a British fighter. H.M.S. Fareham and H.M.S. Wryneck, the last described from Athens as an Australian destroyer, have arrived at Piraeus, the port of Athens. A Greek spokesman in London said there was no reason to doubt that the British forces that landed at Crete include land, naval, and air units. It is reported that the Italians bombed British troops within a few hours of their arrival in Crete. There were no serious casualties. The troops, including a famous North Country regiment,, went immediately to take up appointed positions. CHURCH OF ENGLAND MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 4. The Archbishop of Canterbury has addressed the following message to Chrysanthos, the Archbishop of Athens and Primate of Greece: — “In the name of the Church of England I send to the bishops clergy and people of your Church a message of sympathy and encouragement on the occasion of the unprovoked assault upon your country. I pray that by God's blessing, and with the help of this country, the freedom of Greece may be preserved.”

RELIEF OF DISTRESS FUND OPENED IN LONDON. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 4. Because of the recent sufferings of the civilian population of Britain, and particularly of London, by indiscriminate enemy bombings, special sympathy is shown in Britain in the general commendation in the Press for the appeal by the Lord Mayor of London •for subscriptions to a Mansion House fund for relief of war distress in Greece. Telegrams have been sent by the British Red Cross to the British Minister in Athens and the Red Cross commissioner in the Middle East stating that all the resources of the organisation are being placed at the disposal of the Greek Red Cross.