NORTHERN FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1940, Page 5

NORTHERN FRONT

KORITZA STILL IN ITALIAN HANDS SUCCESSFUL BRITISH AIR OPERATIONS. DAMAGE DONE TO ENEMY AERODROME. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) RUGBY, November 8. Informed military circles in London state that Koritza appears to be still in Italian hands. There has been a small Greek advance about the region of Slemnitsa. No further news has reached London of the contingent of Italian alpine troops reported to be cut off further south, and the exact strength of this force is not known. There are no certain reports of more than about a hundred prisoners. Futnher south, on the coastal front, the Greeks are reported to have gone back to the Akharon River—the Styx of ancient mythology. The line runs from there north to the upper region of the Kalamas River. There is heavy Italian pressure on this front.

Air raids on the Monastir Aerodrome on November 5, when it was b'ombed and machine-gunned are regarded by military observers in London as possibly an attempt to intimidate the Yugoslavs. Further evidence of the important contribution which the British AirForce is making in the defence of Greece is given in the latest R.A.F. communique. Dealing with attacks on Weinesday on Italian aerodromes at Valona, on the coast of Albania, the communique states that enemy aircraft on the ground were bombed and ma-chine-gunned. A large number of airmen standing on the tarmac were also attacked. A number of bombs dropped were seen to score direct hits bn aircraft, which were completely destroyed, and near misses severely damaged other aircraft. Our aircraft were attacked by enemy fighters, but without effect, ail our aircraft returning safely to their base. One airman was killed by a stray bullet. The leader of the British formation, on his return to the base, said: “We took the enemy completely by surprise and were able to make our runs over the tarmac without interference. Our observers watched the bombs bursting among aircraft on the ground and saw that very heavy damage was inflicted.”