ON SNOWBOUND ALBANIAN FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 December 1940, Page 5

ON SNOWBOUND ALBANIAN FRONT

Italians Fighting Hard in Retreat COUNTER-ATTACK SMASHED WITH GREAT LOSS R.A.F. BOMBS ON VALONA AND NAPLES The Italians are again in full retreat on the Albanian front, both in the north and. the south, a 8.8. C. broadcast reports. A Reuter message says the deep snow does not seem to impede the Greek advance. In the central sector a vigorous Italian counter-attack was smashed with great loss. The Greeks are continuing their advance north of Pogradec, travelling through deep snow. In the coastal sector the Greeks are reported to be distant not more than 13 miles from the enemy base of Argyrokastron. Pictures have been published in Britain of British mechanised forces moving through a Greek town. The arrival of this support has greatly heartened the Greeks. The Royal Air Force has made another successful raid on Valona. Fires were started near the harbour, the main quay was struck by a stick of bombs and a direct hit was made on . a supply ship. One enemy fighter was shot down. The leader of the British attacking formation said the raid on Valona was one of their best. Italian fighters engaged some of the bombers, but while they were chasing them another flight of bombers dropped bombs, practically all of which scored direct hits on the targets. The British suffered no losses. Long-range bombers of the Royal Air Force were over Italy again on Monday night. The Italians report an attack on Naples and on an important harbour in Sicily and admit that fires were started. In the raid on Naples, fires and explosions were caused at an oil refinery and a main line railway junction. In Sicily, fire bombs started nine fires and at least one enemy aircraft on the ground was burnt out. All the British planes returned safely.