ITALIAN TROOPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 December 1940, Page 8

ITALIAN TROOPS

TOLD THEY WERE GOING TO CORFU FOUND THEMSELVES INSTEAD IN MIDST OF BATTLE. CAPTURED PRIEST'S STORY. (By Telegraph —Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. According to the Greek radio, the Italians are so frightened before embarkation that they are informed that they are going to Corfu, which they are led to believe the Italian Navy has captured. Suddenly they find themselves in the midst of a battle. A captured Italian priest stated: “The war is the thoughtless action of Mussolini. We see the result in our capture. The Pope ordered us to pray for peace. Unfortunately his. advice was not heeded. Our division embarked from Brindisi for Corfu. I do not know why we changed direction to Albania." ROME REPORT (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. An Italian communique states: “The Italians in Greece resisted attacks from numerous formations of Greeks, which renewed their attacks after considerable artillery preparation. We carried out violent bombings of Greek positions. “An enemy cruiser shelled an Italian installation at Alula and caused some damage.” YOUTHS CALLED UP - (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) ROME, December 4. Italians of the 1923 class, comprising 150,000 have been called to the colours. NEW ITALIAN PLANE SPEED OF 621 MILES AN HOUR. (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) ROME, December 4. The Italians News Agency stated that a new Italian plane, with a speed of 621. miles an hour, and flying at a height of 40,900 feet, is undergoing trials. It is described as an all-metal monoplane, weighing four tons and driven by a pusher air screw.