HELPED BY ROYAL AIR FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1941, Page 5

HELPED BY ROYAL AIR FORCE

Elbasan Bombed Heavily ITALIANS MAKING DESPERATE EFFORTS MILITARY AND ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES A Royal Air Force communique issued in Athens tells of a further highly successful raid on Elbasan, the strategically important tomi standing about 18 miles from Tirana, the capital of Albania. A road junction and building's of military importance were hit and a number of fires were started. All the British planes returned safely. This heavily bombed town of Elbasan is one of the Greeks’ main objectives. The Italians are making a desperate lastminute effort to stem the Greek drive. The activity now reported follows on a lull caused largely by severe weather conditions. To relieve distress among the Greek troops and civilians in the battle areas the United States Red Cross has made a splendid gift of food and materials to the value of nearly C 300.000. A ship bearing the gifts is leaving almost at once. In addition to their military difficulties in Albania the Italians are suffering a serious economic setback in that territory. The main sources of crude oil in Albania have either passed into Greek hands or are on the point of doing so. Valuable chrome mines are reported to have shared the same fate.